Indian paintbrush Facts
Indian paintbrush Facts
|
| Interesting Indian paintbrush Facts: |
|---|
| Indian paintbrush develops erect, unbranched, hairy stem that can reach 12 to 20 inches (rarely 2 feet) in height. |
| Indian paintbrush produces long, narrow, lanceolate, green leaves with smooth edges and pointed tips. Upper leaves are divided in three lobes and covered with hairs. |
| Indian paintbrush produces large, three-lobed bright colored bracts (modified leaves) that can be red, yellow, orange, purple or pink colored. They surround small, tube-shaped, whitish green or yellow, "true" flowers, densely packed in the form of spike. |
| Indian paintbrush blooms from May to September. Large, colorful bracts attract hummingbirds, main pollinators of these plants. |
| Fruit of Indian paintbrush is capsule filled with numerous seed. |
| Indian paintbrush propagates via seed and division of the underground stem. |
| Indian paintbrush is parasitic plant. It uses specially designed tubes called haustoria (modified roots) for the absorption of water and nutrients from the roots of nearby, host plants. Indian paintbrush can produce food via process of photosynthesis (like other green plants), but it thrives much better and survives even on the poor and dry soil when it "steals" water and nutrients from the roots of other plants. |
| Indian paintbrush can parasitize on many plant species. It often lives close to sagebrush and lupine. Lupine produces alkaloids (type of bitter-tasting compounds) that repel herbivores. Indian paintbrush is able to absorb some of these alkaloids to protect itself also. |
| Upper part of Indian paintbrush resembles a brush covered with bright dyes. It was often used among various tribes of Native Americans, hence the name - Indian paintbrush. |
| Native Americans used flowers of Indian paintbrush as condiment. |
| Native Americans used Indian paintbrush in treatment of rheumatism and to boost their immune system. They also used Indian paintbrush to improve quality and gloss of the hair. |
| Indian paintbrush was used as a source of dyes in the past. |
| Indian paintbrush can be used in the process of bioremediation (removal of pollutants from the soil with a help of living creatures) because of its ability to absorb and store large quantities of selenium in the roots and green parts. |
| Castilleja linariaefolia, is a species of Indian paintbrush, best known as the state flower of Wyoming. |
| Indian paintbrush can grow as annual (lifespan: one year) or perennial (lifespan: more than 2 years) plant, depending on the species. |
|
Related Links: Facts Plants Facts Animals Facts |