Duration: Annual

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Stems simple to diffusely branched from near base and closely ascending 10-40 cm tall, villous-pubescent.

Leaves: Sessile 1-5 cm long, parted into few or many linear or filiform divisions 1-12 mm long or lower ones entire, linear, villous-pubescent with shining, white, spreading hairs.

Flowers: Spikes 2-20 cm long, dense, bracts 10-20 mm long, central portion lanceolate, 2-4 pairs of linear or filiform divisions palmately or pectinate-ascendingly disposed, upper lobes crimson to purple, conspicuously pilose with shining white hairs at base; calyces 12-20 mm long, 4 lobed to middle or slightly below, lobes resemble bracts in shape and color; corolla 12-30 mm long crimson, lower lip purple, crimson, pink, yellow or white, usually purple tipped with yellow, 3-5 mm wide, 3-7 mm long; bilabiate.

Fruits: Ovoid capsule 8-15 mm long.

Ecology: Found on grassy valley floors and hillsides from 1,500-4,500 ft (457-1372 m); flowers March-May.

Notes: Sometimes this species can be found covering large areas. One subspecies found in our area, subsp. exserta.

Ethnobotany: Unknown for this species, many other species have medicinal or food uses.

Etymology: Castilleja is for the Spanish botanist Domingo Castillejo (1744-1793), while exserta means exserted or protruding out or beyond surrounding structure.

Synonyms: Orthocarpus purpurascens 

Editor: SBuckley, 2010