Common Name: Mountain Paintbrush

Note relatively small magenta-red to rose, pink, 3-5 lobed bracts. Yellow-green flowers stick slightly above bracts. Upper leaves have 3-5 lobes.

There are 3 varieties in area: (grows in subalpine meadows.)
var. oreopola: bracts are purple to crimson (Magenta) found from Central Cascades (Mt. Rainer) south.
var. olympica: Inflorescence purple to crimson but smaller than var. oreopola, found in Olympic Mtns.
var. albida: Note white colored bracts and location (Cascade Pass north to BC), also 1-2 pairs of lateral lobes which are hairiest near stem.
T&G lists this species as a Yellow and is given a separate Gallery in the Yellow section.

Central Cascades; Mt. Rainier; Olympics; west North Cascades
TRAIL: Sourdough Gap; Wonderland Trail; Mt. Townsend; Goat Mtn.
HABITAT: subalpine meadow
ELEVATION: 1,785 - 1970 m (5,855 - 6,460 ft.)