Denseflower Indian paintbrush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denseflower Indian paintbrush
Scientific classification
Genus:	Castilleja
Species:	densiflora

Castilleja densiflora is a beautiful flowering plant. Its common name is denseflower Indian paintbrush. It's known for its bright, colorful flowers. Like other plants in the Indian paintbrush family, it has a special way of getting some of its food.

What is the Denseflower Indian Paintbrush?

The denseflower Indian paintbrush is a type of plant that grows from the ground each year. It's not a tree or a bush. It's called a "root-parasite." This means it can connect to the roots of other plants. It then takes some water and nutrients from them. This helps it grow strong and healthy.

Where Does It Grow?

This plant is native to certain parts of North America. You can find it naturally in California. It also grows in the northern part of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico. It likes to live in open, sunny places. You will often see it in grassy fields. It also thrives in areas called chaparral. Chaparral is a type of habitat with many shrubs and small trees.

What Does It Look Like?

The denseflower Indian paintbrush can look a little different depending on where it grows.

• Size: It usually grows to be about 10 to 40 centimeters tall. That's roughly the length of a ruler or a bit more.
• Leaves: Its leaves are long and narrow. They can be up to 8 centimeters long. Some leaves are smooth, while others might have small lobes or divisions.
• Flowers: The plant has a showy flower cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster can be small, about 3 centimeters long. Or it can be quite long, up to 25 centimeters.
• Bracts: The most colorful parts are not the true flowers. They are special leaf-like structures called bracts. These bracts surround the actual flowers. They can be white, pink, or even bright purple.
• Flower Color: The actual flowers are small and somewhat rounded. They hide between the colorful bracts. Their colors can range from white to yellow, pink, or purple.

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  At Briones Regional Park

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  Purple bracts

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  Bear Valley Colusa County, CA