Mojave Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja plagiotoma
Color: Green
Common name: Mojave Indian paintbrush
Latin name: Castilleja plagiotoma
Family: OROBANCHACEAE
Height: 11 - 23.5 inches tall.
Description: Gray-green, becoming ± maroon, minutely hairy (especially leaves); hairs branched. Flower calyx 12–18 mm, pale yellow, white-woolly. Inflorescence 3–20 cm; bracts 13–20 mm, white-woolly lobes 3–5 which enclose the flowers.
Leaf: 20–50 mm, ± linear; lobes 3–5
Range: S Sierra Nevada, s San Joaquin Valley, Inner South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Mojave Desert
Habitat: Dry sagebrush scrub, pinyon woodland
Elevation: 300–2500 m.
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Notes: Photographed May 30, 2009, San Gabriel Mtns, Chilao Flat, Los Angeles County, Calif. and June 6, 2009 San Gabriel Mtns., Lightning Ridge Nature Trail, Los Angeles County, Calif. An uncommon dicot, is a perennial herb. Like others in the Castilleja species, it is hemiparasitic — partially parasitic — but makes some of its own food. It is native to California and is endemic (limited) to California alone. It is included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 4.3 (limited distribution).
We have an online wildflower field guide that is designed to help you identify desert wildflowers by color, scientific name, region and common name. The pictures are sized to work on the iPod, iPhone, iPad and similar devices. With your iPod or phone you will easily be able to identify wildflowers while in the desert. Links for downloads are on the bottom of the Wildflower Field Guide page.
Photo tips: Most digital point-and-shoot cameras have a macro function - usually symbolized by the icon of a little flower. When you turn on that function, you allow your camera to get closer to the subject, looking into a flower for example. Or getting up close and personal with a bug. More on desert photography.
Mojave Desert Wildflowers - This book is the standard by which all other wildflower books are measured. The author, Jon Mark Stewart, has combined super photography with concise information. This book has an entire color page for each wildflower covered, with a discussion of the wildflower. 210 pages with 200 color photos. More...
What's Blooming Now - Check the Wildflower Reports
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