Species Detail Forb

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
Bracts and flower Castle Hot Springs Rd - Sue Smith


Home	Plant Communities	Plant List	Search Forbs and Subshrubs	Search Grasses	Search Woody Plants	Additional Resources	About this Website

Click on Any Image for a Larger View
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 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailForb.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer