Indian paintbrush is also known as ‘painted cup’ and is declared the Wyoming state flower. According to an old American legend, a young warrior in his vain effort to paint the sunset with his war paint prayed to the Lord who in turn presented him with the paintbrushes so that he could match the shades of nature in the Indian paintbrush.

The plant belongs to the family of figwort and can grow to a height of 0.5 to 3ft. The flowers look like cloves and blossom from April to September. Paintbrush is mostly noted for its dazzling red colour but it can be available in shades of orange, purple, yellow, cream and even white. The actual flower of the plant is rather insignificant while the most attractive and colourful part being the bract which is actually the modified leaves providing support to the inflorescence. The exquisite flowers allure numerous insects and butterflies who help in pollination.

The plant grows abundantly along the meadows of the mountains, banks of the rivers woods and even roadside of the North West.