From Deserts to Alpine Meadows
I became acquainted with the strange genus, Castilleja in the desert mountains of New Mexico, where its species name is augustifolia, (common name; desert paintbrush). Here in the dry foothills of my home, the plant expresses itself with a bright orange calyx. This plant is strange because it is both a producer (creates its own energy from the sun) as well as a consumer (attaches its roots to other plants and siphons off energy and nutrients). It is thus considered hemi-parasitic by botanists. Garden enthusiasts have trouble growing this plant from seed, as it needs a host plant to germinate and grow.
Castilleja augustafolia
As I travelled north this summer, I discovered that Castilleja species expresses a multitude of color and hues. I first thought that the wide color variation might be attributed to altitude and perhaps soil type. But my daughter, Meghan, the Parks Canada naturalist taught me that species such as scarlet paintbrush and sulfur paintbrush cross pollinate and their offspring shows up as pale pinks,tangerine, and even fuchsia.
Scarlet Paintbrush
Sulfur Paintbrush
Pale Pink Hybrid
Fuschia Hybrid