Flora and Fauna Friday

I decided to do a Flora and Fauna Friday, slightly cheesy but I needed something to help me remember plant names. Along with the picture of the plant or animal I'll put the Latin name and some other info about the subject.

Common names- Indian Paintbrush, Red Indian Paintbrush, Harsh Paintbrush, Cliff Paintbrush, Small Flowered Paintbrush.

Latin name- Castilleja Miniata

Family name- Figwort

Ecology- Mountain meadows, stream banks, open woods and roadsides.

Blooming season- April to September

Colors- They are known for their bright red color although it can vary from orange to scarlet to purple, even to white and yellow. Their color comes from dense, bright bracts that surround the actual flower.

Tidbits- Indian Paintbrush is the State flower of Wyoming and it's also the flower that according to Indian legend came to be, because a young Indian boy wanted to paint the sunset but could never find or make the right colors. The young boy asked the Great Spirit to help him paint the sunset so one evening as the young boy goes up the his usual spot to try to paint the sunset he finds all these paintbrushes fill with the right colors. After he finishes his painting he leaves the brushes on the hilltop and in the morning, bright and beautiful flowers cover the hills.

info found at, www.intangibility.com/inw/Wildflowers/Indian-Paintbrush.html