Great Red Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja miniata)

Usually just called Indian Paintbrush, I'm using the name that Stephen Botti uses and far be it from me to argue with him. Yosemite also has Wooly Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa) and Hairy Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja pilosa), though I don't have photos yet). The Wooly Indian Paintbrush is really a low-elevation coastal species and barely makes its way into the foothills and up to El Portal, but mostly you will not find it in the park. The Hairy Indian Paintbrush, on the other hand, is a high-altitude species, growing above 3200m on the east side of the Sierra and known in the park only from Dana Plateau. The paler, hairy Alpine Paintbrush (Castilleja nana) grows above 3000m and is known to occur on Mt Dana, Mt Gibbs and Mt Hoffman. The only other red-to-scarlet Paintbrush that grows in the middle altitudes is Castilleja parviflora (no common name in Botti). C. parviflora is only occasional and prefers wet, open meadows, whereas C. miniata is common and prefers drier terrain. So in other words, if you are in the park and you see a Paintbrush, it is most likely the Great Red Indian Paintbrush.