[The Broomrape Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Paintbrushes of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington

The Genus Castilleja

Bog paintbrush: Castilleja suksdorfii

Bog paintbrush: Castilleja suksdorfii

Columbia River Gorge Paintbrushes:

Violet Desert Paintbrush: Castilleja angustifolia var. angustifolia -

Attenuate Indian Paintbrush, Narrowleaf Paintbrush, Narrow-leaf Owl-clover, Valley Tassels, Valley-tassels: Castilleja attenuata (Synonym: Orthocarpus attenuatus) - Corolla large, creamy white, 12-22 mm long. Lower lip of corolla not noticeably three-pouched. Floral bracts white-tipped.

Desert Paintbrush: Castilleja chromosa (Synonym: Castilleja angustifolia var. dubia) -

Harsh Paintbrush, Harsh Indian Paintbrush: Castilleja hispida var. acuta (Synonyms: Castilleja hispida ssp. acuta, Castilleja taedifera) -

Harsh Paintbrush, Harsh Indian Paintbrush: Castilleja hispida var. hispida (Synonyms: Castilleja angustifolia var. abbreviata, Castilleja angustifolia var. hispida, Castilleja hispida ssp. abbreviata, Castilleja hispida ssp. hispida) - Scarlet flowers (bracts), often with green below the tips and with a pair of long lateral lobes from about the middle. Stems clustered. Plants generally with numerous long, spreading, coarse hairs. Leaves lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, typically with at least a pair of lateral lobes. Corolla 20-30 mm long, the galea 10-14 mm long or about equal in length to the tube. Calyx segements 1-3 mm long, rounded to obtuse.

Common Paintbrush, Scarlet Paintbrush, Scarlet Indian Paintbrush: Castilleja miniata var. miniata (Synonyms: Castilleja crispula, Castilleja dixonii, Castilleja miniata var. dixonii, Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata, Castilleja pallida var. miniata) - Scarlet flowers (bracts). Stems clustered. Leaves mostly entire, only occasionally with lateral lobes on the uppermost leaves. Corolla 25-42 mm long, the galea 15-20 mm long (about to or less than the length of the tube). Calyx segments linear to lanceolate, 4-8 mm long, tapering gradually from the base. Plants generally glabrous to slightly pubescent.

Cliff Indian Paintbrush, Cliff Paintbrush: Castilleja rupicola (Synonym: Castilleja andrewsii) - Scarlet to orangish-red flowers (bracts). Stems clustered, usually found hanging from cliffs in the Columbia River Gorge. Leaves split into many thin segments. Corolla 27-35 mm long, the glaea 14-21 mm long or uch longer than the tube. Lateral pairs of calyx segments 2-3 mm long, rounded or obtuse. Plants glabrous to short-pubescent.

Bog Paintbrush, Suksdorf's Paintbrush, Suksdorf's Indian Paintbrush: Castilleja suksdorfii - Scarlet to crimson bracts and calyces with a yellow band below the reddish coloration. Stems single. Uppermost leaves generally with1 (to occasionally 3) pairs of lateral lobes. Corolla 24-40 mm long, the slender galea 14-21 mm long or about equal to to slightly longer than the tube. Lateral pairs of calyx segments 5-12 mm long, about equal in width until near the tip. Found in wet subalpine meadows.

Annual White Paintbrush, Hairy Indian Paintbrush, Hairy Owl-clover, Thin Paintbrush: Castilleja tenuis (Synonyms:Orthocarpus hispidus, Orthocarpus rarior, Orthocarpus tenuis, Triphysaria hispida) -

Thompson's Owl Clover, Thompson's Paintbrush: Castilleja thompsonii (Synonym: Castilleja villicaulis) -


Paul Slichter