Castilleja purpurea
(Downy Indian Paintbrush)
Castilleja purpurea, Along US 90 west of Eden, Concho Co. 5978
Castilleja purpurea, Along US 90 west of Eden, Concho Co. 5949
Castilleja purpurea, Along US 90 west of Eden, Concho Co. 5939
Castilleja purpurea, Along US 90 west of Eden, Concho Co. 5936
Castilleja purpurea, Along US 90 west of Eden, Concho Co. 5946
Castilleja purpurea, Along US 90 west of Eden, Concho Co. 5959
| Scientific Name | Castilleja purpurea (Castilleja purpurea var. purpurea) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CAPUP5 |
| Common Name | Downy Indian Paintbrush | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 527214 |
| 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: Elongated terminal spike consisting of leaf-like bracts subtending flowers. Bracts greenish becoming purple to purplish red, 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 inconspicuous yellow-green two-lipped tubular corollas. Corollas are two-lipped; upper green hood-like lip is slightly protruding; lower lip inconspicous; 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, Flora of North America and Wildflower Center. |
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