Castilleja linariifolia

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Castilleja linariifolia is a perennial plant, native to the United States and is the state flower of Wyoming. It has a number of common names including Wyoming Indian paintbrush, narrow-leaved Indian paintbrush, desert paintbrush, Wyoming desert paintbrush, Wyoming paintbrush, linaria-leaved Indian Paintbrush, and Indian paintbrush.[2]

Castilleja linariifolia
Castilleja linariifolia, in the Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.

Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Orobanchaceae
Genus: Castilleja
Species:
C. linariifolia
Binomial name
Castilleja linariifolia
Castilleja linariifolia pinkish flowers

Description

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It is a perennial herb.[3] It grows up to one meter in height and has sparse, linear leaves which are between 20 and 80 mm in length and have up to 3 lobes.[4] The flowers, which consist of a pinkish-red to yellow calyx and yellow-green floral tube, appear in panicles or spikes between June and September in its native range.[4]

Distribution and habitat

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An illustration from National Geographic in 1917.

This species occurs on rocky slopes and arid plains and is associated with sagebrush scrub as well as pinyon pine or juniper woodland.[4] It is native to Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming.[5]

State flower

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When options were being considered for a state flower for Wyoming, Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard from the University of Wyoming promoted this species over rival candidates including the columbine and fringed gentian.[2]

The State of Wyoming officially adopted the Indian paintbrush ("Castilleja linariaefolia") as the state flower of Wyoming on January 31, 1917.[2][6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Wyoming State Flower Indian Paintbrush Castilleja linariaefolia". Netstate. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  3. ^ "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  4. ^ a b c "UC/JEPS: Jepson Manual treatment for Castilleja linariifolia". The University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  5. ^ "PLANTS Profile for Castilleja linariifolia (Wyoming Indian paintbrush)". USDA. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  6. ^ "Wyoming Statute 8-3-104". Wyoming Statutes. Archived from the original on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
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