Castilleja miniata
(Scarlet Paintbrush, Red Indian Paintbrush)
Castilleja miniata, North Swan Valley, Summit Co. 6671
Castilleja miniata, Loveland Pass, Clear Creek Co. 1618
Castilleja miniata, Shrine Ridge Trail, Eagle Co. 7003
Castilleja miniata, Crystal Lakes, Summit Co. 5959
Castilleja miniata, Crystal Lakes, Summit Co. 5971
Castilleja miniata, Loveland Pass, Clear Creek Co. 0725
Castilleja miniata, Mayflower Gulch, Summit Co. 0518
Castilleja miniata, Shrine Ridge Trail, Eagle Co. 6573
| Scientific Name | Castilleja miniata | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CAMI12 |
| Common Name | Scarlet Paintbrush, Red Indian Paintbrush | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 33069 |
| Family | Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to alpine (6000 to 12000 ft.); moist areas in meadows, along streams and in forests. Plant: Erect perennial 10 to 28 inches tall with clusters of usually unbranched, sticky, hairy stems. Leaves: Alternate, stalkless, linear to lanceolate, up to 1-1/4 to 3-1/4 inches long with three prominent lengthwise veins; entire edges, upper leaves sometimes split into 3 lobes. 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 scarlet red, or sometimes orange and salmon pink toward the tips; early the green, tubular, two-lipped flowers are almost completely hidden by the showy bracts that are longer than the flower and are entire or cleft into sharp lobes. Mature flower tubes become more prominent. Bloom Period: June to September. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, SEINet and American Southwest, "The Alpine Flora of the Rocky Mountains" by Richard W. Scott, and "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel. |
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