Indian paintbrush plant full#

Not to worry, though, since you can learn about, identify, and appreciate the wildflower species of Michigan without committing to understanding the complexities of botanical science in order to do so. It becomes easy to overlook really special and perhaps even rare wildflowers if it’s not something you already have expertise in. The sheer variety of Michigan’s wildflower populations is worthy of awe, but when out hiking, it’s hard to know just what flowers you’re encountering.

Indian paintbrush plant full#

However, when all was said and done, the Wyoming Legislature made the Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja linariaefolia) the official state flower of Wyoming on January 31, 1917.The entire state is full of diverse and beautiful flora and fauna species and among the flora, the Michigan wildflowers stand out as particularly special. Some objected on the grounds that there were too many varieties and the flower was not common throughout the state. The Wyoming Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution felt it was time for Wyoming to designate a state flower and put their support behind the Indian Paintbrush. The Indian Paintbrush is the Wyoming State Flower.īy 1916, over half of the states had already designated a state flower. In the case of the paintbrush, these bracts get more attention than the inconspicuous cream-colored flowers.ĥ. These flowers are actually petallike bracts or colored leaves that grow below the actual flower of the plant. Indian Paintbrush are made up of bracts.įrom a distance, it appears that the slender stalk of the Indian Paintbrush is covered with flowers. Those free-loading paintbrushes are actually soaking up nutrients from their blue clad neighbors.Ĥ. So, the next time you see Indian Paintbrush growing alongside Texas Bluebonnets, you can pretty much know what’s going on. When the roots of the Indian Paintbrush come in contact with the roots of other plants and grasses, they latch on to their neighbor’s roots to get additional nutrients. This means that the Indian Paintbrush rely on other plants to grow. And, Native Americans soaked the plant in grease to make a hair oil.ĭon’t be alarmed. The Navajo Indians also used the plant for medicinal purposes. The name Grandmother’s Hair is attributed to the Chippewa Indians who used the plant to treat women’s diseases and rheumatism. Most folks prefer to call it by its most popular name - Indian Paintbrush. This beautiful flower is also known by other names like Texas Paintbrush, Scarlet Paintbrush, Grandmother’s Hair, Common Red Paintbrush, Butterfly Weed, Prairie Fire, Painted Cup, and Painted Lady.

The Indian Paintbrush has several aliases and uses. Another similar Native American legend also involves an artist whose discarded paint brushes became flowers.Ģ. These paint bushes later blossomed into plants. After completing his work, the artist then discarded his used paintbrushes around the landscape. The Great Spirit provided him with paintbrushes to create his painting. Frustrated that he could not produce any of the colors that matched the beauty of a sunset, he asked the Great Spirit for help. The name of this flower is based on the legend of an Indian who wanted to paint a sunset. Here are five interesting facts about this costar in the Lone Star State’s springtime wildflower extravaganza. These two flowers are often seen together, complementing one another on nature’s springtime screen. The Indian Paintbrush, another beautiful flower, has earned a costarring role alongside the bluebonnet. This beautiful state flower is always a sight to behold when it makes its debut along our highways and byways.

The magnificent Texas Bluebonnet is the undisputed star of the wildflower show that premiers every spring in the Lone Star State.