Castilleja citrina
(Prairie Indian Paintbrush)
Castilleja citrina, US 90, West of Eden, Concho Co. 5964
Castilleja citrina, US 90, West of Eden, Concho Co. 5968
Castilleja citrina, US 90, West of Eden, Concho Co. 5960
| Scientific Name | Castilleja citrina (Castilleja purpurea var. citrina) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CAPUC |
| Common Name | Prairie Indian Paintbrush, Citron Paintbrush | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 527212 |
| Family | Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) | Wildflower Center Ref. | Click Here |
| Description |
Habitat: Dry, rocky caliche soils of grassy open areas, prairies and roadsides. Plant: Erect, clump-forming perennial 6-18 inches tall with unbranched stems; herbiage covered with soft hairs. Leaves: Alternate, sessile, linear to lanceolate, 1-1/4 to 2-1/2 inches long, with 1 or 2 pairs of narrower linear lateral lobes. Inflorescence: Showy elongated terminal spike consisting of leaf-like bracts subtending flowers. Bracts broader and shorter than the leaves; greenish becoming greenish-yellow to bright yellow, or they are entirely so colored; with 1 or 2 pairs of lateral lobes, the main central lobe wider than the linear-lanceolate side lobes. Narrow calyx tube has similarly-colored lobes enclosing the yellow-green two-lipped tubular corollas. Protruding corollas are two-lipped, an upper green hood-like lip and slightly flaring lower lip; protruding style and yellow stigma. Bloom Period: March to May. References: "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist, "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Shinners & Mahler’s Flora of North Central Texas" by Diggs, Lipscomb and O’Kennon, Review of the Castilleja purpurea complex by Nesom and Egger and Flora of North America. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2024