Species: Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng.

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Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Scrophulariaceae

Genus:

Castilleja

Species Synonyms:

Castilleja ludoviciana Pennell

Common Names:

scarlet Indian paintbrush
scarlet paintbrush
painted-cup

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

southeastern Saskatchewan – southern Manitoba – southern Ontario

Saskatchewan:

southeastern Saskatchewan; Buchanan – Spy Hill

Ecoregion:

Aspen Parkland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

moist meadows and ditches

Associated Species:

red osier dogwood

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Endangered

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S1

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Scarlet Indian paintbrush is endangered because it is extremely rare and regionally restricted in Saskatchewan. Possible threats have been identified for this species.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

15 – 50 cm

Roots:

weak

Stems:

annual or biennial, slender, hairy, usually solitary, erect, simple or occasionally branched

Leaves:

basal rosette leaves inversely lanceolate to egg-shaped, margin entire; stem leaves 3 – 7 cm long, linear to lance-shaped, deeply divided, divisions 3 – 5, linear

Inflorescence:

unbranched, terminal, flowers sessile; bracts lance-shaped, crimson-tipped or red, orange, yellow or white, 3 – 5-lobed, about as long as and concealing flowers

Flowers:

sepals green, 1.5 – 2.5 cm long, 4-lobed, segments united laterally into a square to entire or notched tip; petals 2 – 3 cm long, greenish yellow, tube shorter than sepals, upper lip exceeding lower lip

Fruits:

capsule 8 – 10 mm long

CASTILLEJA KEY FOR VARIETIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Petal tube longer than sepals; petals purplish to yellow; sepals and bracts green or occasionally pink-tipped	C. sessiliflora
1 Petal tube shorter than sepals; petals greenish; sepals and bracts usually brightly coloured	2

2 Sepal segments united laterally into a square to entire tip; plants annual	C. coccinea
2 Sepal segments distinctly lobed; plants perennial, with a woody rootstock	3

3 Inflorescence purple	C. raupii
3 Inflorescence reddish to scarlet	C. miniata