STATE FLOWER
Wyoming's State Flower: Indian Paintbrush
The Indian paintbrush won Wyoming's official designation in 1917 over the fierce objection of the state's own leading botanist.
A Contested Choice
Indian paintbrush (Castilleja linariifolia) is a hemiparasitic wildflower, drawing some of its water and nutrients through the roots of neighboring plants. Botanist Dr. Aven Nelson opposed its selection, arguing it was too hard to cultivate and too easily confused with other paintbrush species, but University of Wyoming professor Grace Raymond Hebard championed the flower, even commissioning a painting of it to win over legislators, and it prevailed.
QUICK FACT
What looks like the flower's red petals are actually colorful bracts — modified leaves — surrounding the plant's small true flowers.
