Lava Beds National Monument Wildflowers

There aree dozens of wildflower species in Lava Beds, including the following: Blazing Star ( Mentzelia laevicaulis ) is found from July to October. the plant is 2 to 4 feet tall with a large, yello, star-shaped blossom. the plant is light green and quite prickly, with long, narrow, wavy toothed leaves. Paintbrush ( Castilleja applegatei ) is the most prominent wildlflower in the monument. The red color of this 6 to 18 inch tall plant is not the flower, but is part of the foliage. If you examine it closely, you will see the pale yellow-green flowers protruding from between the long narrow red leaves. The clustering of leaves gives it a paintbrush appearance. Coyote tobacco ( Nicotiana attenuata ) grows along the road sides only in late August and early September. It grows to a height of 12 to 18 inches. The flower is white, trumpet shaped, and about an inch long. If you touch the stem and leaves, you will note a slight stickiness.