Common Local Paintbrushes:

Castilleja hispida --Harsh Paintbrush (See photo above.)(drier fields & forest openings). Castilleja miniata (43K) --Common Paintbrush (moister forest openings). Castilleja rupicola --Cliff Paintbrush (see photo below.(rocky cliffs of Columbia Gorge & rocky scree in alpine areas). The leaves are usually lance-shaped with 1-2 pairs of lance-shaped lobes.

Castilleja parviflora (43K) --Rosy Indian Paintbrush (pink to red paintbrush of alpine areas.)

Castilleja miniata-- Common Indian Paintbrush (reddish flowers). Leaves have entire margins and are somewhat lance-shaped.

Castilleja rupicola-- Cliff Paintbrush (bright red flowers and dissected, several-lobed leaves). Usually found on rocky cliffs in the Columbia River Gorge.

1. Flowers small & green surrounded by bright red, pink, or orange tipped bracts or leaves. These "flowers" or bracts are clustered at the top of the plant.

2. Leaves are variable, generally narrow, linear to lance-shaped, 7 often wtih 3 lobes or forks at the tip (like a pitchfork). A single plant may have several of the above leaf types!

3. The paintbrush area somewhat parasitic, in that they are usually found in association with other plants such as native grasses, stonecrops, penstemons, or lupines. This association involves the roots of the paintbrush penetrating those of the host plant so that the former can "borrow" the juices of the latter in order to meet at least part of its nutrient requirements. Paintbrush are not totally parasitic. They can manufacture some of their own food.

1. Paintbrush is a very pretty wildflower.

2. Local Indians ground it & drank small quantities of it to bring about regularity in the menstrual cycle. This was done with great caution as large doses could induce miscarriages.