Lesser Indian Paintbrush, Annual Paintbrush, Marsh Indian Paintbrush, Alkali Indian-PaintbrushCastilleja minor, Broomrape Family (Orobanchaceae)

Found in wet areas, stream sides
Seen blooming on July 23, 2018 by the Rio Chama

I don’t know why this is commonly called the Lesser Indian Paintbrush because it is taller than all the other species of Paintbrush. It grows over 3 feet tall with un-branched stems. It differs from other Paintbrushes by being an annual and liking wet places. What appears to be flowers, the paintbrush, are actually leaf-like, red-tipped bracts. The flowers are narrow, green-yellow tubes hidden by the bracts. Leaves are well spaced, growing at alternate intervals along the green stems, and like the stem and bracts, have a covering of short hairs. The Apache used the roots to make a dye to color various kinds of skins, especially deer skin. The pink flowers in the background are Arizona Centaury.

​If you want to identify a different flower then you might find it useful to check what was blooming this time last year. If you cannot identify a flower from the website send a photo and where you took it to contact@rockymountainsflora.com. Read online for tips.