Parrothead Indian paintbrush facts for kids

Castilleja pilosa is a type of wild flower called the parrothead Indian paintbrush. It gets its name because its flowers can look a bit like a parrot's head! You can find this plant growing naturally in the western parts of the United States, from California all the way to Wyoming. It loves to grow in mountains and high plateaus, especially in areas like the Great Basin. You might see it in places with sagebrush or even high up in cold, alpine climates.

What Does the Parrothead Indian Paintbrush Look Like?

This beautiful wild flower is a perennial herb. This means it lives for more than two years. It can grow straight up or spread along the ground. Its stems are a bit hairy and can reach about 35 centimeters (about 14 inches) long.

The plant can look quite different from one place to another. Its flowers grow in a cluster called an inflorescence. This cluster has layers of special leaves called bracts. These bracts can be green, purple, or pink, and sometimes they have white edges. The actual flowers are yellow-green and look like small pouches. They have a part called a stigma that sticks out.

Different Kinds of Parrothead Indian Paintbrush

There are a few different types, or varieties, of this plant:

• C. p. var. longispica (longspike Indian paintbrush) - You can only find this type in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
• C. p. var. pilosa - This type grows only in California, Oregon, and Nevada.
• C. p. var. steenensis (Steens Indian paintbrush) - This variety is endemic to Oregon. This means it is found only in Oregon and nowhere else in the world.