Indian Paintbrush

When I was a child in upstate New York in the 1950's, there was a wild flower we called Indian Paintbrush. Looking up that term now brings other flowers not what I remember. It was a small plant and the small flowers were on a long stem. There were two kinds I remember, the more common yellow one, and a beautiful red orange. If memory serves me correctly, the plants were low to the ground, the leaves dark green and everything was 'hairy". I don't seem to remember the shape of the leaves, but the flowers were shaped like a round paintbrush like an artist would use, and the end was blunt not tapered.

I believe they died out as civilization encroached and may be extinct now.

Does anyone have any idea what I am talking about?

Sorry Bolino,

I have only recently become aquainted with the Florida Paintbrush. I have them all over my woodland property.

That is not the same as what I remember. It is a totally different plant and I think perhaps the name was colloquial (sp?).

The plant I am talking about grew in meadows and the flower stalk grew above the grasses.

Yep, I knew that. Just wanted to share my Paintbrush with you, but I won't hi-jack again. My apologies.,

Molly

I think you're thinking of orange hawkweed - Hieracium aurantiacum. We also called them Devil's Paintbrush when I was a kid, in the '50s in upstate NY. The orange are an alien, some of the yellow are actually native. There are several types.

Oh, and they are very much alive and kicking - they love lawns and will pop up a flower stalk as soon as the mower has gone by. Oddly, I just dug a couple out of the rose fence for a friend who was feeling nostalgic.

Kathleen, that's it! I guess we weren't allowed to say Devil when I was a kid!

How can the orange ones be alien, they were all around in the 1950's. Where would they have originated from?

This site says they were also called Indian Paintbrush

http://www.wellesley.edu/Biology/Web/Species/phawkweedo.html

I found a website that says:

"Yellow hawkweed was first introduced from Europe into northern New York about 1879. It is a fairly recent importation from Europe, but it has spread rapidly."

http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Hieracium_caespitosum.html

and

"Orange hawkweed was first introduced from Europe into New England because of its attractive flame-colored flowers. Originally it was a garden ornamental. This species was introduced to Spokane in 1945."

http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed_info/Written_findings/Hieracium_aurantiacum.html

Seems like neither was native.

They seed like dandelion, another alien that is also ubiquitous.

They also use runners, and according to those and other websites, should be considered invasive. But pretty.

Castilleja species are often called Indian Paint Brush. They are native wildflowers. Could this be what you're thinking of?

Take a look at all the entries in the Plant Files
http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=Castilleja&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=genus&images_prefs=both&Search=Search&offset=0

No, it's yellow hawkweed http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/112459/ and orange hawkweed http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/36911/