About Castilleja indivisa Engelm.
Castilleja indivisa Engelm., commonly called Texas Indian paintbrush or entireleaf Indian paintbrush, is a hemiparasitic annual wildflower. It is native to Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma in the United States. Historical records show the species formerly grew in Arkansas, and there are reports of naturalized populations in Florida and Alabama.
Bright red leaf-like bracts grow around the plant's white to greenish flowers, giving it the appearance of a ragged brush that has been dipped in red paint. Light yellow or pure white variants sometimes grow mixed in with the red-colored plants. Each individual plant typically reaches a maximum height of 18 inches (46 cm). Its leaves are long and stalkless.
This species is hemiparasitic: its roots grow until they contact the roots of other plants, mostly grasses, then penetrate the host plant's roots to get part of the nutrients it needs. Texas Indian paintbrush usually blooms in spring and summer. Its native habitats include prairies, meadows, pastures, and roadsides.
