I associate the plant with the Sun, the astrological symbol Gemini, the element Air, and the goddess Ceres and god Vulcanus. The flowers in magical use are a symbol and attractor of love and happiness. Ojibwe used a wash of the plant to keep their hair shiny and glossy. The Acoma Pueblo women held the plants as decorations during harvest dances. The plant also yields various dyes– a black dye from the roots used by the Zuñi to color deerskin and a red dye from the bracts used by the Tewa for wood and pottery. The Ramah Navajo drank a decoction of the leaves during pregnancy to ‘keep the baby small for easy delivery.’ NOTE: DO NOT ingest any part of the plant if pregnant. Giant red Indian paintbrush grows in meadows, forest clearings and woodland areas. Giant red Indian paintbrush attaches itself to the roots of other plants and takes the nutrients it needs. The Navajo used a dressing made of the leaves for burns and an infusion of the crushed leaves for stomach troubles (possibly as an emetic or laxative) and to ‘clean the blood’ following internal injury. Giant red Indian paintbrush (Castilleja miniata) is a perennial herb wildflower that exhibits a parasitic dependence on other plants. NOTE: the green parts of the plant are extremely toxic and no part of the plant should be ingested without medical advice. However, regardless of its duplicitous nature, this plant has various recorded medicinal uses. Origin: native Status: State Endangered Habitat: part shade, sun rocky soil rock crevices, ledges Bloom season: June - August Plant height: 6 to 20 inches. It is a root parasite, meaning the roots of this plant pierces the roots of others to steal away their nutrients. This flower is not as red as it seems– only the bracts have a brilliant color, while the flowers inside are white and small. Our state flower is known for its bright blue hue, described by some as when the sky falls on Texas, but horticulturists like Jerry Parsons, a retired Texas A&M University professor from San Antonio, have been researching and developing variants of the bluebonnet’s color for decades.
0 kommentar(er)
