A rather common perennial herb found in chaparral brushlands of eastern Mendocino County, and many other counties in California, is the native Woolly Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja foliolosa Hook. & Am.).   This plant species is almost endemic to California and is found only slightly beyond our state's borders.   The term foliolosa means "furnished with leaflets" which actually refers to the colored showy bracts.

It can be found in yellow pine forest, foothill woodland, chaparral, and grassland valley plant communities.  At the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center it brightens the chaparral brushlands with splashes of bright orange to red-orange color.