British Columbia Outdoor Wilderness Guide             
    
			
 
 
                   
                     
                      
                       
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                             Indian 
                              Paintbrush 
                              (Castilleja sp.) 
                              a.k.a. common red paintbrush  
                          
                        
                       
                         
                           
                             
                              Indian 
                                paintbrush is a member of the figwort family. 
                                This 
                                perennial, that has a cluster of stems that grow 
                                upward from the base, can grow up to 60 cm. tall. 
                                 
                             
                           
                         
                       
                      
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               
                               
                                
                                 
                                  - LEAVES: 
                                     
                                  
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                                    The leaves of the Indian Paintbrush are long 
                                    and narrow  
                                  
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                                    pointed but without teeth  
                                  
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                                    upper leaves can have 3 lobes and fine hairs 
                                     
                                
    
                                 
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                                    Indian Painbrush flowers are set in clusters 
                                     
                                  
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                                    long, tube-like; pale green to red on the 
                                    ends  
                                  
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                                    partly hidden by brilliant red, hairy and 
                                    toothed bracts  
                                
    
                                 
                                  - FRUIT: 
                                     
                                  
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                                    capsules with many seeds  
                                
  
                                 
                                  - HABITAT: 
                                     
                                  
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                                    Indian Paintbrush grows in mid to high elevations 
                                     
                                  
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                                    dry to moist areas such as forests, roadsides 
                                    and slopes  
                                  
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                                    Indian Paintbrush is found throughout most 
                                    of British Columbia.  
                                
    
                                 
                                  - FASCINATING 
                                    FACTS:  
                                  
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                                    It is easy to see why the plant received it's 
                                    name 'paintbrush'. The tops look like they 
                                    have been dipped in bright red paint.  
                                  
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                                    dyes have been made from the Indian Paintbrush 
                                    plant.  
                                
   
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
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