Mountain Indian paintbrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain Indian paintbrush |
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| var. albida in the Mount Baker Wilderness | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Castilleja
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| Species: |
parviflora
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The Castilleja parviflora, also known as the mountain Indian paintbrush, is a beautiful wildflower. It gets its common name because its bright colors look like paintbrushes! This plant grows naturally in western North America, from Alaska all the way down to California. You can find it in high mountain areas, even where the weather is very cold and windy.
What Does It Look Like?
This special wildflower is a perennial herb, which means it lives for more than two years. It can grow up to about 40 centimeters tall, which is roughly the length of a school ruler. The plant is covered in tiny hairs, some of which are sticky (glandular) and some that are not.
Its leaves are a few centimeters long and shaped like a spear or an oval. The most exciting part of the plant is its flower cluster, called an inflorescence. This cluster has many layers of colorful leaves called bracts. These bracts can be pale yellow, bright red, or even pink! Hidden among these colorful bracts are the actual flowers, which are usually yellow-green and sometimes have a touch of red.
Different Kinds of Mountain Indian Paintbrush
Just like there are different types of apples, there are also several varieties of Castilleja parviflora. These varieties are slightly different and grow in specific places:
- C. p. var. albida - This variety is found only in British Columbia (Canada) and Washington (USA).
- C. p. var. olympica (Olympic Indian paintbrush) - You can also find this variety only in British Columbia and Washington.
- C. p. var. oreopola (Henry Indian paintbrush) - This type grows from British Columbia down to Oregon.
- C. p. var. parviflora - This is the most widespread variety, found all the way from Alaska to California.
