Plant Image
Bracts and flower
Castle Hot Springs Rd - Sue Smith


Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Castilleja exserta - exserted Indian paintbrush

Synonyms: Orthocarpus exsertus, Orthocarpus purpurascens, Orthocarpus purpurascens var. pallidus, Orthocarpus purpurascens. var. palmeri
Other Common Names: twotone owl's clover, purple Indian-paintbrush, purple owl clover, Indian paintbrush
Plant Form: Forb or Subshrub

Family: Scrophulariaceae


   
 
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Bracts and flower
Castle Hot Springs Rd
Sue Smith
Leaf
Castle Hot Springs Rd
Sue Smith
Plant - summer
Hwy 97
Sue Smith
Forb Plant Description

Origin: Native   Life Cycle: Annual
General Desc: Single stems arise from the base and branch higher up. Named owl's clover because the flower resembles an owl's face and the owls peer from the bracts. Partially parasitic as it uses roots of other plants for nutrients.
Identification notes: Hairy stemmed annual, leaves with thread-like divisions. Flower spikes dense, velvety, pinkish-purple with white hairs at the bases, resembling a paintbrush. Flowers are hairy, pink or purple, the lower lip is often tipped in white or yellow.
Height: To 12 inches


Habitat

Habitat Description: Found on grassy valley floors and hillsides.
Plant Communities: Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands
Elevation: 1500 - 4500 feet


Flower Characteristics

Color: Pinkish-purple with white or yellow tips     Shape: Irregular in elongated clusters     Tubular: Y     Flowering Period: Mar - May
Description: Small flowers to 3/4 inch long in spikes of many pink to pinkish-purple bracts. The flower's lower lip is greatly inflated with hooked beak above and are white to yellow tipped.


Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaf Color: Dark green     Leaf Type: Simple     Leaf Shape: Pinnatifid     Leaf Margin: Smooth     Leaf Attachment: Alternate     Leaves Clasp: N
Hairs: Leaves and stems     Spines: N
Leaf Description: Leaves are finely divided into threadlike segments to 1-1/4 inches long appearing all along stems.


Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Notes: Oval capsule 1/2 to 3/4 inch long.


  Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590
Version 8.0  
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Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022
Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson  
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