Western Yellow Paintbrush

by Robert Bales

Title

Western Yellow Paintbrush

Artist

Robert Bales

Medium

Photograph - Photo

Description

As we were walking though the meadows we found these very beautiful yellow flowers. Latter we found out they are related to the Red Indian Paintbrush.
This low elevation, yellow paintbrush is identical to its more common red relative. It is a tall, yellow plant, up to 60 cm in height. The petals are nondescript and green, but a series of yellow bracts give the flower its yellow colour. The roots are parasitic, robbing nutrients from some of its neighbours. The leaves are linear, green and alternate.
Castilleja, commonly known as Indian paintbrush is a genus of about 200 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes, northern Asia, and one species as far west as the Kola Peninsula in Siberia. They are hemiparasitic on the roots of grasses and forbs. The generic name honours Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo
The flowers of Indian paintbrush are edible, and were consumed in moderation by various Native American tribes as a condiment with other fresh greens. These plants have a tendency to absorb and concentrate selenium in their tissues from the soils in which they grow, and can be potentially very toxic if the roots or green parts of the plant are consumed. Highly alkaline soils increase the selenium levels in the plants. Indian paintbrush has similar health benefits to consuming garlic if only the flowers are eaten in small amounts and in moderation.
The Ojibwe used a hairwash made from Indian paintbrush to make their hair glossy and full bodied, and as a treatment for rheumatism. The high selenium content of this plant has been cited as the reason for its effectiveness for these purposes. Nevada Indian tribes used the plant to treat sexually transmitted diseases and to enhance the immune system

Uploaded

August 16th, 2013

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