Common Red Paintbrush - Photo of the Day - August 11th, 2010

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"Common Red Paintbrush"

A macro photograph of the bright red bracts protecting the duller flower-head of a Common Red Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata) plant.

Captured in Kananaskis Country in the eastern reaches of the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada.

Taken with a Canon Rebel XSi using an 18-55mm lens. No post processing.

Castilleja, is a genus of about 200 species of wildflowers, collectively known by the common names Indian paintbrush or Prairie-fire. It can often be difficult to identify particular species within the genus, were it not for some assistance from reference material i would not have been able to identify this flower.

Castilleja miniata is a species of Indian paintbrush known by the common name giant red Indian paintbrush. It is native to western North America from Alaska to Ontario to California to New Mexico, where it grows usually in moist places in a wide variety of habitat types. This wildflower is a perennial herb growing up to about 80 centimeters tall, slender and green to dark purple in herbage color. The lance-shaped leaves are 3 to 6 centimeters long, pointed, and coated in thin hairs. The inflorescence is made up of bright red to pale orange or orange-tipped bracts. Between the bracts emerge the yellow-green, red-edged tubular flowers.” – Wikipedia

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