Castilleja sessiliflora
(Great Plains Indian Paintbrush)
Castilleja sessiliflora, Riverbend Camping Area, San Angelo State Park, Tom Green Co. 5828
Castilleja sessiliflora, Riverbend Camping Area, San Angelo State Park, Tom Green Co. 5835
Castilleja sessiliflora, Riverbend Camping Area, San Angelo State Park, Tom Green Co. 5829
Castilleja sessiliflora, Riverbend Camping Area, San Angelo State Park, Tom Green Co. 5844
| Scientific Name | Castilleja sessiliflora | USDA PLANTS Symbol | CASE5 |
| Common Name | Great Plains Indian Paintbrush, Downy Paintedcup | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 33167 |
| Family | Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Habitat: Dry, rocky, gravelly soils of open areas, prairies and woodland edges. Plant: Erect, clump-forming perennial with one to several leafy stems; 4 to 12 inches tall; stems and leaves densely covered with soft hairs. Leaves: Alternate, sessile, linear to linear-lanceolate, 3/4 to 2 inches long; upper blades usually have a pair of linear lateral lobes. Inflorescence: Showy, elongated terminal spike consisting of leaf-like bracts subtending flowers. Bracts broader and shorter than the leaves; green and sometimes pink-tipped (also may be pink to rose to purplish); with 1 or 2 pairs of lateral lobes, the main central lobe wider than the linear-lanceolate side lobes. Narrow calyx tube is about 1 inch long and has similarly-colored lobes enclosing the corolla. Corollas are 1-3/8 to 2-1/8 inches long, pinkish or sometimes yellow, conspicuous and extending well beyond calyces; with an upper galea (hood-like lip) that is slightly longer than the single protruding lower lip that has flared lobes; style with small, dark-colored stigma extends just beyond upper corolla lip. Bloom Period: March to May. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, SEINet, Flora of North America and Missouri Plants |
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