Giant red Indian paintbrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant red Indian paintbrush |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Castilleja
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| Species: |
miniata
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| Synonyms | |
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Castilleja elata |
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Castilleja miniata is a beautiful wild plant often called the giant red Indian paintbrush. It gets its name because its bright red flowers look like a paintbrush dipped in color! You can find this plant growing across western North America, from Alaska all the way down to California and New Mexico. It also grows east into Ontario, Canada. This plant loves moist places and can be found in many different natural areas.
Contents
What This Plant Looks Like
This wildflower is a type of plant called a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It can grow up to about 80 centimeters (about 31 inches) tall. The plant's stems and leaves can be green or even a dark purple color.
Its leaves are shaped like a spearhead, which is called "lance-shaped." They are usually 3 to 6 centimeters long. The leaves have pointed tips and are covered in fine, thin hairs.
The most striking part is its flower cluster, called an inflorescence. This cluster is made up of bright red, pale orange, or orange-tipped parts called bracts. Bracts are like special leaves that often look like petals. Hidden among these colorful bracts are the actual flowers. These flowers are tubular and have a yellow-green color with red edges.
Most plants in the Castilleja family are special. They are partly parasitic on other plants. This means their roots connect to the roots of other plants. They get some of their water and nutrients from these "host" plants. Because of this special connection, it's usually very hard to dig up and move these plants. They often don't survive being transplanted.
Different Kinds of Giant Red Indian Paintbrush
There are three main types, or subspecies, of this plant. A subspecies is a group within a species that has small differences.
- C. m. ssp. dixonii – This type is found only along the west coast. You can see it from Alaska down to Oregon.
- C. m. ssp. elata (Siskiyou Indian paintbrush) – This is a rare type. It grows only in the Klamath Mountains region. This area is in Northern California and Southern Oregon.
- C. m. ssp. miniata – This is the most common type. It is found widely across many areas where the plant grows.
Subspecies Gallery
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Castilleja miniata subsp. dixonii in British Columbia
See also
In Spanish: Castilleja miniata para niños
