Cobwebby Indian paintbrush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cobwebby Indian paintbrush |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Castilleja
|
| Species: |
arachnoidea
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Castilleja filifolia |
|
Castilleja arachnoidea, also known as the cobwebby Indian paintbrush, is a unique type of wild flower. It belongs to a group of plants called Indian paintbrushes, which are known for their bright, colorful tops that look like paintbrushes.
This plant gets its name "cobwebby" because it has fine, soft hairs that look a bit like spiderwebs covering parts of it. It's a small plant, usually growing in mountain areas.
Contents
Where Does the Cobwebby Indian Paintbrush Grow?
This special plant is found in the western parts of the United States. You can see it growing naturally in:
- Northern California
- Nevada
- Southern Oregon
It likes to live in mountain ranges and also in a high, flat area called the Modoc Plateau. It's a plant that comes back year after year, so it's known as a perennial herb.
What Does It Look Like?
The cobwebby Indian paintbrush is a small plant. It usually grows up to about 30 centimeters tall, which is about the length of a standard ruler.
Leaves and Stems
Its leaves are narrow and pointed. They are usually a few centimeters long. Sometimes, these leaves might have small cuts or lobes along their edges. The stems and leaves often have those soft, cobweb-like hairs.
Flowers and Colors
The most interesting part of the plant is its flower cluster, called an inflorescence. This part is covered in those unique cobwebby fibers.
The plant has special leaf-like structures called bracts. These bracts are usually yellowish or a dull red color. The actual flowers are hidden between these bracts. The flowers themselves are shaped like small pouches and can be greenish-yellow or even purplish-red.
Fruit
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a fruit. This fruit is a small capsule, about one centimeter long. It holds the seeds for the next generation of plants.
See also
- Castilleja arachnoidea para niños (in Spanish)
