But they get a huge boost in fitness from stealing water and other essential minerals from a host plant. Since they have fairly normal green foliage, they can photosynthesize on their own. Of the parasitic plants found in this family, Castilleja is actually a fairly mild parasite, known as a root hemiparasite. Haustoria are specialized roots that drill into the roots of other plants for the purpose of stealing their resources. Although levels of parasitism range greatly in this family, they all have a defining characteristic: haustoria. In fact, it comes from an entire family of plant-on-plant parasites, Orobanchaceae. The reason for this is that, although it looks just like any other green forb to the naked eye, Castilleja is actually parasitic on other plants. Some wildflowers like mountain bluebells or little sunflower form huge monolithic stands, but Indian paintbrush is almost always scattered through an area with other plants. Note how it goes through the tissue but doesn't puncture the cells.Īnother thing you may or may not notice about Castilleja is that you almost never see it alone. You can kind of see this once you know what to look for, as the color sort of shades back to green as you move down the stem. Much like poinsettia, all the action is in the specially formed leaves. They are the leafy bracts surrounding the very inconspicuous and uninteresting greenish white flowers at the very tip. First off, the colorful blooms that make it so remarkable are not actually the flowers. There are a couple interesting things about Castilleja. Despite being maniacally difficult to tell some of the species apart, Indian paintbrush is one of my personal favorite wildflowers, and not just for it’s breathtaking colors. Blooming riotously in the summer, from deserts to alpine meadows, the nearly 200 species in this genus (many endemic to North America) put on quite a display – a riot of reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, and purples. is probably familiar with one of our most attractive wildflowers – Castilleja, or Indian paint brush. Mark has photographed over 90% of the approximately 200 known species and varieties, as well as publishing five species new to science ~ if anyone know Indian Paintbrushes it's Mark.Castilleja miniata, a very common paintbrush species in Western North AmericaĪnyone who has spent much time in the Western U.S. They can be seen along highways and in fields, complementing the deep blue of the bluebonnets.įor those of you who want to know more about the plant genus Castilleja or Indian Paintbrush go to the photostream of Mark Egger Texas Paintbrush typically blooms in early to mid-spring, and thrives in well-drained areas with full sun. The roots grow until they reach the roots of other plants, mainly grasses, and then penetrate the roots of the "host" plant to obtain a portion of their needed nutrients (known as semi or hemiparasitism). (As you can see in the photo).Įach plant typically grows 12-18" (30-45 cm) in height. They sometimes produce a pink, light yellow or pure white variation mixed in with the reds. The bright red leaf-like bracts that surround the white to greenish flowers make the plant look like a ragged brush that has been dipped in red paint. Texas Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa), also known as Entireleaf Indian Paintbrush, is a hemiparasitic annual wildflower native to Texas and Oklahoma in the United States. Texas Paintbrush (Indian Paintbrush) White Variation
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