Castilleja miniata

           
Red Indian Paintbrush

Corolla Side

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

Note that the bract and sepals have been removed to provide a clear view of the corolla.

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.

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Miniata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.  
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plants perennial, with more or less woody rootstock; plants NOT [annual or biennial]

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

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

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

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bracts NOT scarlet (FOA)

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bracts mostly entire; NOT lobed (FOA)

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flowers usually straight and erect; NOT strongly curved

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flowers shorter than 40-55 mm long

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flowers NOT yellowish

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

 

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Castilleja: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.  
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leaves NOT all basal 

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cauline leaves alternate; NOT opposite (FOA)

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

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

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corolla present

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corolla irregular

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corolla obscurely 5-lobed; NOT distinctly 5-lobed

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corolla NOT spurred at the base

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four anther-bearing stamens, no sterile stamens

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filaments NOT villose

 
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Scrophulariaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.
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herbs; NOT shrubs, NOT trees

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plants green or with some chlorophyll

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leaves NOT all basal

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flowers in long or short spikes

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flowers brightly colored; NOT inconspicuous

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flowers irregular

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fruit a many-seeded capsule