Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: Castilleja

I'll never forget the first time I saw one of these flowers last year, when Steve and I were on a group hike. I saw it and stopped dead in my tracks, saying, "WOAH! What the heck is THAT!!!" These flowers, with their strangely-shaped, fiery orange petals, are unforgettable. They look as if they were dipped in paint, which is exactly why they got their name! :D This flower is one of about 200 species, one of which is the state flower of Wyoming ! :) Paintbrush plants are actually parasitic, living off the nourishment of roots from plants around them. They are also edible, and the flowers were often eaten by Native Americans as a condiment with salad greens. As well, it was used as a hair wash, a treatment for rhumatis, sexually transmitted diseases, and to enhance the immune system. And yet, the fact that this plant absorbs selenium easily makes the roots or green parts poisonous! Fascinating, isn't it?! :) If you would like to know more about this flower, Wiki has a great source here: Wiki: Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja) I've uploaded two other pictures today and I hope you'll visit them too! Thanks to all of you who have visited and have left comments and favorites! I try to go to all of your pages within a day or two and is a highlight for me to see your beautiful photography! :)

Look at the happy chicken face!!! :D :D :D I was delighted when I went out today and found a new flower just 40 feet from the house! I've taken pictures of several types of "Indian Paintbrush" species on our our property, but this one is new! It's very small, about 2" tall, with blossoms that are so tiny it was difficult to get a good picture. When I got back to my computer and found a happy chicken staring back at me, I burst out laughing!! :D What a funny sight!! :D Castilleja attenuata is a species of Indian paintbrush known by the common names attenuate Indian paintbrush and valley tassels. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Baja California, where it grows in grassland habitat. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castilleja_attenuata