Castilleja miniata

           
Red Indian Paintbrush

Upper Stem

Elbow Lake,
South of Armit on #980
04-Aug-2005

I find the keys to the species of Castilleja in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta difficult.  They rely, in part, on distinguishing between various shades of red and purple.  One path to C. miniata in Flora of Alberta requires "bracts not scarlet".  Yet the key in Budd's Flora requires "inflorescence reddish to scarlet".  

One path to C. miniata in Flora of Alberta requires "bracts mostly entire", not "lobed".  However, the species write-up in the same flora describes the bracts as "entire or variously cleft".

The key to the genera in Flora of Alberta requires "cauline leaves alternate".  However, some of the leaves of this specimen appear to be almost opposite.

Budd's Flora states that C. miniata has "linear pointed leaves".  However, Flora of Alberta describes the leaves as "narrowly lanceolate to ovate".  The leaves of this specimen are lanceolate to ovate.

Miniata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.  

plants perennial, with more or less woody rootstock; plants NOT [annual or biennial]

plants glabrous to villose; NOT [plants puberulent, short-hirsute]

upper stem leaves mostly entire (bracts entire or variously cleft); NOT [upper stem leaves 3- to 5-lobed with the lateral lobes linear]

inflorescence pink to reddish to scarlet (occasionally yellowish); NOT [crimson to pinkish purple to purple to deep purple]

bracts NOT scarlet (FOA)

bracts mostly entire; NOT lobed (FOA)

flowers usually straight and erect; NOT strongly curved

flowers shorter than 40-55 mm long

flowers NOT yellowish

galea usually at least two-thirds as long as corolla-tube; NOT [less than half as long as corolla-tube]

 

Castilleja: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.  

leaves NOT all basal 

cauline leaves alternate; NOT opposite (FOA)

floral bracts large, concealing much (all) of the flower; NOT [floral bracts smaller, the flowers quite evident]

floral leaves or bracts brightly colored, usually red or yellow, or shades of these colors; NOT [green or purplish brown]

corolla present

corolla irregular

corolla obscurely 5-lobed; NOT distinctly 5-lobed

corolla NOT spurred at the base

four anther-bearing stamens, no sterile stamens

filaments NOT villose

 

Scrophulariaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.

herbs; NOT shrubs, NOT trees

plants green or with some chlorophyll

leaves NOT all basal

flowers in long or short spikes

flowers brightly colored; NOT inconspicuous

flowers irregular

fruit a many-seeded capsule