About Castilleja occidentalis Torr.
Castilleja occidentalis Torr. is a species in the Castilleja (paintbrush) genus, and is commonly known as western paintbrush. Like other species in this genus, it is a hemiparasite. This species has a wide distribution range: it extends from the Rocky Mountains north to British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana (including Glacier National Park), and south to Utah and New Mexico. It has not been recorded in Wyoming or Idaho. Western paintbrush grows in areas both above and below the treeline. It grows in dry locations, and prefers rocky soils and talus slopes. It bears thin, lanceolate leaves on woody stems, with occasional lobing on its upper leaves. Its bracts are most often pale yellow to nearly white; this coloration, combined with its typical habitat, helps with identifying the species. Bract color can also vary, ranging to red and purple, with every intermediate shade between these colors. Western paintbrush also often grows in fragile wet meadows, where it is vulnerable to damage from trampling.
