Castilleja
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| Castilleja | ||||||||||||||||
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 Northwestern Indian paintbrush
Castilleja angustifolia |
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About 200, see text |
Castilleja, commonly known as Indian paintbrush or Prairie-fire, is a genus of about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes, as well as northeast Asia. These plants are classified in the family Orobanchaceae, They are semi-parasitic on the roots of grasses and forbs.
Castilleja species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Schinia cupes (which has been recorded on C. exserta) and Schinia pulchripennis (which feeds exclusively on C. exserta), and checkerspot butterflies such as Euphydryas species.
One of the species of this genus, Castilleja linariifolia, was adopted on January 31, 1917 as the state flower of Wyoming.[1]
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[edit] Uses and toxicity
The flowers of indian paintbrush are edible and sweet, and were consumed in moderation by various American Indian tribes as a condiment with other fresh greens. These plants have a tendency to absorb and concentrate Selenium in their tissues from the soils in which they grow, and can be potentially very toxic if the roots or green parts of the plant are consumed.
The Chippewa Indians used a hairwash made from Indian Paintbrush to make their hair glossy and full bodied and as a treatment for rheumatism. The high selenium content of this plant has been cited as the reason for its effectiveness for these purposes. Nevada Indian Tribes used the plant to treat venereal diseases and to enhance the immune system. Various other tribes used the plant as its name suggests -- as a paintbrush .
The high Selenium content of this plant makes it potentially toxic if consumed in large quantities. This plant should be avoided as food if found growing in highly alkaline soils, which will increase the selenium levels in the plants. Indian Paintbrush has similar health benefits to consuming garlic if only the flowers are eaten in small amounts and in moderation. [2]
[edit] Selected species
| Castilleja ambigua | Paintbrush owl's clover | |
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Castilleja angustifolia | Northwestern Indian paintbrush |
| Castilleja annua | Annual Indian paintbrush | |
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Castilleja applegatei | Applegate's Indian paintbrush, Wavyleaf Indian paintbrush |
| Castilleja arvensis | ||
| Castilleja attenuata | Narrowleaf owl's clover | |
| Castilleja caudata | Port Clarence Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja cervina | Deer Indian paintbrush | |
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Castilleja chromosa | Desert Indian paintbrush, Desert paintbrush |
| Castilleja coccinea | Scarlet Indian paintbrush, Scarlet painted-cup | |
| Castilleja cusickii | Cusick's Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja densiflora | ||
| Castilleja ecuadorensis | ||
| Castilleja elegans | Elegant Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja elmeri | Elmer's Indian paintbrush | |
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Castilleja exserta | Purple owl's clover, Purple Indian paintbrush, Exserted Indian paintbrush, escobita. Formerly in Orthocarpus. |
| Castilleja fruticosa | ||
| Castilleja fulva | Elko Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja guadalupensis | (extinct) | |
| Castilleja hispida | Harsh Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja hyetophila | Coastal red Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja hyperborea | Northern Indian paintbrush | |
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Castilleja indivisa | Entireleaf Indian paintbrush, Texas paintbrush |
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Castilleja lanata | |
| Castilleja levisecta | Golden paintbrush | |
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Castilleja linariifolia | Narrowleaf Indian paintbrush |
| Castilleja lutescens | Stiff yellow Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja miniata | Greater red Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja minor | Smallflower Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja mutis | ||
| Castilleja neglecta | Tiburon Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja nubigena | ||
| Castilleja occidentalis | Western Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja pallescens | Pallid Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja pallida | ||
| Castilleja parviflora | Small-flowered Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja parvula | ||
| Castilleja raupii | Raup's Indian paintbrush, Raup's painted-cup | |
| Castilleja rhexiifolia | Rhexia-leaf Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja rubicundula | Cream sacs | |
| Castilleja rupicola | Cliff Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja septentrionalis | Labrador Indian paintbrush, Northern paintbrush | |
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Castilleja sessiliflora | Downy Indian paintbrush, Downy paintbrush |
| Castilleja socorrensis | ||
| Castilleja sulphurea | Sulphur Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja tenuis | Hairy owl's clover | |
| Castilleja thompsonii | Thompson's Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja unalaschcensis | Alaska Indian paintbrush | |
| Castilleja yukonis | Yukon Indian paintbrush |
[edit] References
- ^ Wyoming Statute 8-3-104 (Title 8)
- ^ Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1
[edit] External links
Native Plant Information Network: Listing of species in the Castilleja genus.
Jepson Manual - taxonomic description of the genus.
