First flowers of Woolly Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa, Orobanchaceae)
Here are the first flowers of Woolly Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa) in the Orobanchaceae plant family that I've seen this year, but they've obviously already been flowering for a while. I first found them last year on February 18, and before that on November 16, so they are quite variable. This is a small woody sub-shrub, usually just a foot high or less, that grows in dry rocky areas in the mountains. This one was growing up a steep embankment so I couldn't get any closer. I assume there are real tubular flowers on it, but it's the brilliant red bracts that first catch your eye. It's a time of year when I can find old summer flowers like the buckwheat in my [Previous] photo as well as new flowers like this. (East Camino Cielo, Santa Ynez Mountains, 22 December 2018)
First flowers of Woolly Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa, Orobanchaceae)
Here are the first flowers of Woolly Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa) in the Orobanchaceae plant family that I've seen this year, but they've obviously already been flowering for a while. I first found them last year on February 18, and before that on November 16, so they are quite variable. This is a small woody sub-shrub, usually just a foot high or less, that grows in dry rocky areas in the mountains. This one was growing up a steep embankment so I couldn't get any closer. I assume there are real tubular flowers on it, but it's the brilliant red bracts that first catch your eye. It's a time of year when I can find old summer flowers like the buckwheat in my [Previous] photo as well as new flowers like this. (East Camino Cielo, Santa Ynez Mountains, 22 December 2018)