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Drawing copyright Mark Müller
Scrophulariaceae Family - "Indian Paintbrush, Bloddy Warrior, Indian Pink, Nosebleed, Painted Cup, Prairie Fire, Red Indian, Wickawee"
Castilleja after the early Spanish botanist, Domingo Castillejo and coccinea from the Latin meaning "red".
Now found infrequently in open woodlands and meadows. Blooms bright red from May to August. The roots of this plant can penetrate the roots of other plants, but it does not depend on this parasitic ability. The flowers themselves are greenish yellow, but are nearly invisible in the axils of the bright red bracts.
Hopi women made a tea from the entire plant and used it as a contraceptive. Blossoms steeped in hot water were used by the Navajo to treat centipede bites. The Chippewa used it to treat women's diseases and rheumatism and a tea made from the flowers was thought to cure the common cold. Fresh flowers are edible and make a colorful addition to salads.
Tiny green-white flower within bract