Castilleja leonardii Rydb.
Castilleja oregonensis Gandog.
Castilleja rhexiifolia Rydb.
Splitleaf Indian paintbrush, rosy Indian-paintbrush, rhexia-leaved paintbrush, alpine paintbrush
Castilleja rhexiifolia is one of the 200 or so species in this genus, and a North American native. It used to be called Castilleja rhexifolia (only one “i” after the “x”). Considering that “rhexiifolia,” however you spell it, is a made up Latin word meaning “has leaves like deer grass,” one might argue that quibbling over the proper spelling is an example of misdirected energy, as this article from the Native Plants Journal ponders. Any step that improves nomenclatural uniformity is okay with me though.
If you’re interested in Castillejas, don’t miss Mark Egger’s superb photographic compilation on Flickr. See also this Castilleja comparison table.
Plants: Plants occur in small clusters, with unbranched purplish or red stems.
Leaves: Alternate, broadly lanceolate (lance-shaped), up to 6″ (15 cm) long, and entire (unlobed).
Flowers: The most noticeable feature of this paintbrush is the color of its flowers—a pink/purple hue rather than the more common strong red or red-orange colors of many other Castillejas. In addition to purple-magenta, pink-white, pink-magenta and crimson also occur. The colorful flowers are actually bracts—modified leaves—which largely enclose greenish flowers.
Habitats: Alpine and subalpine meadows in the Rocky Mountains and related western mountain ranges, from 1.1–2.5 mi (1.8–4 km).
Online References:
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (uncommon reddish form)
References:
Castilleja lauta A. Nelson
Castilleja leonardii Rydb.
Castilleja oregonensis Gandog.
Castilleja leonardii Rydb.
Castilleja oregonensis Gandog.
6/26/2006 · Colorado · By Constance B. Kent 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Lamiales | Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary |
| Family | Orobanchaceae | Broomrape family of parasitic plants |
| Genus | Castilleja | Named for Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo |
| Species | rhexiifolia | “With Rhexia-like leaves,” for the leaves’ resemblence to deer grass |
Castilleja rhexiifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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