BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Castilleja occidentalis | Western Paintbrush 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Western paintbrush is a woody-based, native, perennial, autotrophic forb
that grows 2 to 8 inches (5-20 cm) tall.  It has a short, dense
inflorescence, which is predominately yellow but varies to red and
purple and displays all intermediate colors [5,6,13,16].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Hemicryptophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Western paintbursh reproduces sexually by pollination and fertilization
and dispersal of resulting seed [2].


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Western paintbrush grows in the high mountains on alpine slopes or
meadows, and on talus or rock slides.  It is common above timberline.
It grows best on sandy loam or loam.  Western paintbrush grows in areas
with late snowmelt.  It is often associated with tufted hairgrass
(Deschampsia caespitosa), golden avens (Geum rossii), and Bellard
kobresia (Kobresia myosuroides) [2,6,13,15,16].

In several western states, western paintbrush occurs at the following
elevational ranges:

        10,500 to 13,000 feet (3,385-4,195 m) in Colorado [5]
         6,500 to  7,500 feet (2,095-2,420 m) in Montana [9]
        10,100 to 11,160 feet (3,260-3,600 m) in Utah [16]


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Western paintbrush generally flowers in July and August [6].  Flowering
may begin as early as June in Montana and may end as late as September
in Colorado and Montana [2].

Related categories for Species: Castilleja occidentalis | Western Paintbrush