Castilleja indivisa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Texas Paintbrush | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  |
||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Castilleja indivisa Engelm. |
Texas Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa), also known as Entireleaf Indian Paintbrush, is a hemiparasitic annual wildflower native to Texas in the United States. 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. They sometimes produce a light yellow or pure white variation mixed in with the reds.
Each plant typically grows 12-18" (30-45 cm) in height. The leaves are long and stalkless. 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).
Texas Paintbrush typically blooms in early to mid-spring, and thrives in well-drained areas with full sun. They can be seen along highways and in fields, complementing the deep blue of the bluebonnets.
