Castilleja brevilobata
A perennial hemiparasitic herb in the Orobanchaceae native to California and Oregon, occupying openings and edges of Yellow Pine Forests and serpentine habitats at 120–1,700 m, blooming Apr–Jul with green to yellowish stems and densely arranged flowers along the upper stem and bright red or yellow outer bracts.
Common Names
Short-Lobed Indian Paintbrush
Summary
Shortlobe Paintbrush is a perennial hemiparasitic herb in the Orobanchaceae native to southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. It is an upright, short plant that is green or yellowish, glistens but not sticky, with hairy glands and few long hairs. Leaves are lance-shaped to oval, 0.5–2 in long, with two or more rounded shallow lobes, and flowers densely arranged along the upper stem above bracts, with the outer part of the bract and flower bright red or yellow.
It grows to 4–8 inches tall and occurs in rocky serpentine meadows and openings and edges within Yellow Pine Forest plant communities; flowering takes place in late spring to early summer. The taxon is rare in its native range, with CNPS rarity 4.2, global rank G4, and state rank S3.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
4-8 inches
Soil Type
Serpentine soil
Bloom Color
Red or Yellow
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Foliage Color
Green or yellowish
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Piper
- Publication
- Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 33: 104 (1920)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Lamiales
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
- Genus
- Castilleja