Harsh Paintbrush
Castilleja hispida var. acuta
Synonyms: Castilleja hispida ssp. acuta, Castilleja taedifera
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Harsh paintbrush (var. acuta) observed along the Shorthorn Trail #16 between Shorthorn Creek and Crofton Creek, Mt. Adams Wilderness.......July 7, 2021.
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Harsh paintbrush (var. acuta) blooming along the Green Mountain Trail #110 near the summit of Green Mountain, several miles northwest of Mount Adams, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.........August 5, 2022.
The photo above shows the subtending, lobed bract and calyx tube
with the corolla tube poking out of it of paintbrush as seen on Potato
Hill at the northern corner of Mt. Adams.........June 21, 2005. Note that the calyx tube is divided into right and left lobes, which are further
divided into 2 lanceolate segments from 3-9 mm long with acute tips. The similar variety hispida has rounder calyx lobe tips.
The photo above shows a bract of harsh paintbrush as seen
on Potato Hill at the northern corner of Mt. Adams.........June 21, 2005.
The bracts of scarlet paintbrush are often entire, but may bear one or
two narrow lobes as shown above.
The photo above shows the calyx tube and corolla tube with the
long galea at its tip extending out of the calyx tube of harsh paintbrush
as seen on Potato Hill at the northern corner of Mt. Adams.........June
21, 2005.
The photo above shows a narrow leaf of harsh paintbrush as
seen as on Potato Hill at the northern corner of Mt. Adams.........June
21, 2005. The stem leaves of this variety are largely entire-margined..
The photo above shows a mid-to upper-stem leaf of of harsh
paintbrush as seen on Potato Hill at the northern corner of Mt. Adams........June
21, 2005. Most of the plants at this location only had narrow leaves, but a
few had more ovate-shaped leaves like above. In addition, most of the leaf edges
were entire, but some had one to several lateral lobes. (The stem leaves of this variety are largely entire-margined.)
The photo above, although not in perfect focus, gives an idea
of the form of this species on Potato Hill........June 21, 2005.
Another photo of the calyx tube with the galea poking out of
it, and a subtending leafy bract at Potatio Hill........June 21, 2005.
Paul Slichter