Castilleja integra

(Whole-leaf Indian Paintbrush)

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Castilleja integra, Fourmile Area, Chaffee Co. 6324

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Castilleja integra, Fourmile Area, Chaffee Co. 6632/6639

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Castilleja integra, Fourmile Area, Chaffee Co. 6617/6621

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Leaves, Castilleja integra, Fourmile Area, Chaffee Co. 6323

Scientific Name Castilleja integra USDA PLANTS Symbol CAIN14
Common Name Wholeleaf Indian Paintbrush, Squawfeather ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 33131
Family Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Plains to montane (5100 to 10200 ft.); dry areas, sagebrush meadows, woodlands, etc.
Plant: Erect perennial 6 to 16 inches tall with clusters of unbranched, hairy stems.
Leaves: Alternate, stalkless, undivided blades linear to linear-lanceolate, 3/4 to 2-3/4 inches long; smooth edges, sometimes rolled-up; green to reddish-green; upper surfaces smooth, lower with matted, short woolly hairs.
Inflorescence: Dense spikes 1 to 4 inches long of several to many blossoms comprised of thin greenish tubes surrounded and enclosed by leaf-like colorful bracts, green at the bases becoming red-orange toward the tips; early the green, tubular flowers are almost completely hidden by the showy bracts that are longer than the flower, obovate, 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches long, hairy, and occasionally divided into 3 sharp lobes, the lateral lobes much smaller than the central lobe. Maturing flower tubes become more prominent.
Bloom Period: May to July.
References: SEINet and American Southwest and "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield.
BONAP Distribution Map


Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains