Indian paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea)

Showy, 1-2' annual of woodland edges, roadsides and shrubby parkland. Blooms in July-August. The red, red-orange, or occasionally yellow flowers are actually bracts surrounding the inconspicuous yellow-green flowers at the top of the spike. The oblong, stemless, sometimes lobed leaves are alternate. The plant is semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants.