Notes:

This is a form of Owl’s-clover, i.e. those Castilleja with 3-pouched lower corolla lip and flowers that are never bright red.  It differs from other owl’s-clovers in its many-branched growth habit, and in the color of its bract tips.  There are two subspecies (ambigua and insalutata), which are differentiated by 1) the color of their corollas and bract-tips, and 2) by the length of the tooth that is exserted from the top of the lower lip pouches.  The Jepson Manual comments that this species is highly variable and difficult.  The plants illustrated below are believed to be subsp. insalutata (despite being identified as subsp. ambigua in Yeager & Mitchell).

Notes:

This is similar to Coast Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis, see above), but the inflorescence is consistently bright red, and the plant is more branched from a woody base.  Stems are glandular below the inflorescence.  Leaves are usually unlobed (but may have up to 3 lobes), and are noticeably crisped, whereas those of Coast Indian paintbrush are merely wavy.

Notes:

This is the only Owl’s-clover with bract tips that are white, rather than pink or purple.  The entire plant is slender, including the inflorescence, giving it a wispy appearance.  The corolla pouches are slender and only slightly inflated.  Leaves are long (2–8 cm), more or less linear with 0–3 lobes.  The tip of the beak (upper flower lip) is straight and not noticeably hairy, features it shares with Denseflower Owl’s-clover.  Bract tips are usually white, but may be pale yellow or pink, typically with yellow or purple dots.

CAUTION: white forms of Denseflower Owl’s-clover (Castilleja densiflora subsp. densiflora, see below) are sometimes seen, but can be distinguished easily by their broader inflorescences, and more inflated pouches.  The photo on the right is Denseflower Owl’s-clover (included to show the difference in pouches).  Thanks to Mark Egger for his help on this species.  Photos #1 and 3 by CJH.

Notes:

This is similar to and could be mistaken for Purple Owl’s-clover (Castilleja exserta, see below).  However, it is slimmer with longer, linear (but not thread-like) leaves (2–8 cm) with 0–3 lobes.  The most apparent difference (on close examination) is the appearance of the beak (upper flower lip); it is straight, and not noticeably hairy.  The bracts are more or less as long as the flowers.  This is sometimes found with white flowers, as shown in the last photo.  In this case, it could be confused with Narrow-Leaved Owl’s-clover (C. attenuata, see above), which always has white flowers.  But this can be identified by its corolla pouches, which are broader and much more inflated than those in Narrow-Leaved.

Notes:

Although the same species as Denseflower Owl’s-clover (subsp. densiflora, see above), this is quite different in its appearance.  The corollas are exserted, with an abruptly inflated lower lip and a shorter calyx.  The lip is generally white, but deep pink forms are not uncommon.  The bracts are shorter than the flowers. Common on Fort Hunter Liggett and the Indians.

Notes:

The most common form of owl’s-clover, this is typically broader than Denseflower Owl’s-clover (Castilleja densiflora subsp. densiflora, see above).  Other differences: it has flowers that can be white, but are usually purple-red.   This has a very different beak (upper flower lip), noticeably hairy and hooked.  Also, these leaves are a little shorter (1–5 cm), thread-like and with 5–9 lobes.  Photo #4 by CJH.

Notes:

This is similar to Coast Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja affinis, see above), but distinguished by the woolly hairs on its stem, leaves and bracts which give the plant a whitish-gray appearance.  Although the inflorescences may be bright red, they are also commonly reddish-orange or even yellow, sometimes on the same plant.

Notes:

This is the most common paintbrush by the immediate coast, distinguished by its bracts which are broad, wedge-shaped to obovate, and generally unlobed. Inflorescences vary in color, including bright red, orange-red and yellow.  The plant is hairy, gray-green with short broad leaves, becoming purple with age.  Photos #1 and 3 by CJH.

Notes:

This paintbrush is distinguished by its calyx, which is more deeply cleft on its lower side, revealing more of the lower corolla lip, and with upward-curving upper lobes.  The inflorescence is less dense than those of some other paintbrushes.  The plant is slightly hairy but not woolly.  Leaves may have 0–3 lobes.  Bracts are generally entire, with bright red or orange tips.  It is found in Monterey County only in the Inner Coast Ranges.