Castilleja miniata is a species of Indian paintbrush known by the common name giant red paintbrush. It is native to western North America from Alaska to Ontario to California to New Mexico, where it grows usually in moist places in a wide variety of habitat types.
Giant red paintbrush is a perennial herb that grows 12 to 80centimeters tall, though occasionally reaching 1meter, with few to many branching stems. It can have a taproot or grow from rhizomes with branching roots.[6] The lance-shaped leaves are 3 to 6 centimeters long, pointed, and coated in thin hairs. The inflorescence is made up of bright red to pale orange or orange-tipped bracts. Between the bracts emerge the yellow-green, red-edged tubular flowers. Flowers bloom May to September.[7]
Because most species of the genus are parasitic on other plants, sophisticated networks are formed between their roots and those of other species. They therefore cannot be transplanted in most cases.[8] Its native habitats include wet mountain meadows and stream banks below 11,000 feet (3,400m).[7]
Initially described as Castilleja dixonii by Merritt Lyndon Fernald in 1899, it was reduced to a variety by Aven Nelson and J.F. Macbride in 1918.[10] It is found on the west coast in British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.[2]
Castilleja miniata var. fulva
Francis Whittier Pennell described it as Castilleja fulva in 1934 and as a variety by John Mark Egger in 2008. It grows in Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory.[3]
Castilleja miniata var. miniata
The autonymic variety is widespread and from Alaska to Baja California and eastward to the Rocky Mountain states and Ontario.[4]
Castilleja miniata var. oblongifolia
This variety was inititally described as Castilleja oblongifolia by Asa Gray and as a variety by Philip Alexander Munz in 1932. It grows from south central California to northern Baja California.[5]
Castilleja miniata has 19synonyms of the species or one of its four varieties.[9][2][3][4][5]
Table of Synonyms
Name
Year
Rank
Synonym of:
Notes
Castilleja confusa var. pubens(A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
1916
variety
var. miniata
= het.
Castilleja crispulaPiper
1906
species
var. miniata
= het.
Castilleja dixoniiFernald
1899
species
var. dixonii
≡ hom.
Castilleja fulvaPennell
1934
species
var. fulva
≡ hom.
Castilleja hyetophilaPennell
1934
species
var. miniata
= het.
Castilleja hyetophila f. longifloraPennell
1934
form
var. miniata
= het.
Castilleja inconstansStandl.
1909
species
var. miniata
= het.
Castilleja miniata var. crispula(Piper) A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.
The scientific name, miniata, means "scarlet" in Botanical Latin for the color of its bright bracts.[11] It is likewise known by the common namescarlet paintbrush,[11] however other species are also known by this name at times including Castilleja indivisa and Castilleja coccinea.[12][13] It is also known as the giant red paintbrush and common paintbrush.[6]
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