Wild Flowers: The Indian Paintbrush (Prarie Fire)

Article below.

These wild flowers grow on the side of the road and in fields all over Oklahoma. I stopped by a ditch on the way home from work and liberated 3 of them and transplanted them to "dinger garden", up in the wheelbarrow.

The colors are so bright, they almost look fake, like someone went through and used flouresent paint on them. I took a pic of the wheelbarrow ones, and then cruised the net for some better pics of it. The pics dont' do it justice, it loses something in the translation, but in real life, you look at it and wonder if it can even be a real thing, the color is so brilliant and loud and fake.

Quote :

Bo Jacob Cichuniec, AGRO/HORT 100G Spring 2002 The Indian paintbrush (Castilleja) is a native wildflower in the family Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family). It was adopted as Wyoming,s State Flower on January 31, 1917. This flower displays various shades of orange, red and sometimes yellow. The Castilleja grows in moist areas, dry areas, and sandy prairies. Its zones range from 3 to 9. The seeds of the Indian Paintbrush usually germinate in the fall and bloom the next spring without pre-treatment. The plant prefers full sun and/or small amounts of shade. The Indian paintbrush has the ability to grow and survive in serpentine soils, which most species are not equipped to handle the stressful amounts of high magnesium, low calcium and overloaded amounts of metals such as chromium and nickel. The height of the Indian paintbrush ranges from 1 to 2 feet tall. Dayna Drollinger, AGRO/HORT 100G Spring 2002 Indian Paintbrush abides in the grasslands and open forest clearings from Alaska to California and throughout New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and the Rocky Mountains. There are at least 6 different species of Castilleja found in the area. It is characterized by it's spikelike flower cluster, which resemble a crude brush that has been dipped in paint. Most species range from a yellow orange to crimson color. It is a perennial growing 15 to 60 cm high. It is an inflorescence with alternate leaves. The flowers bloom in early spring and often remain in full color throughout the summer. Propagating it by seed is difficult. It is a partial root parasite that needs to planted with seeds of other plants. It prefers well drained soil with full sun. It can produce it's own food yet if malnourished it will parasitize off the roots of other plants. It grows slowly and is difficult to transplant. Sow in the fall for 1 to 2 months and plant in the spring. The flowers are edible yet they must be eaten in small quantities. They will absorb selenium, a potentially toxic, alkaline mineral compound in the soil. Where high amounts of selenium in the soil is not present, Indain Paintbrush can be enjoyed in moderation with salads. Various tribes used the flowering parts as a paintbrush. The Chippewa Indians are know the use Indian Paintbrush as a medicine to treat rheumatism and as a bath rinse to make their hair glossy. Both applications are useful due to it's selenium content.

Hehe, Dick Locke.

-HECK!

Man takes a good photo.