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State Symbols: Official State Birds and Flower Designations of the 50 States

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Wyoming Symbols, State Bird & State Flower

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Bird

Western Meadowlark

(Sturnella Neglecta)

Adopted February 5, 1927.

The Western Meadowlark (Sturnella Neglecta) was adopted as the State Bird on February 5, 1927. Approximately the size of a robin, the meadowlark sports a yellow breast with a black bib over its mottled brown body. These song birds are found from Wisconsin to Texas and westward to the Pacific

Identification

Length: 8.5 inches

Sharply-pointed bill

Buff and brown head stripes

Yellow underparts with black "v" on breast

White flanks with black streaks

Brown upperparts with black streaks

Brown tail with white outer tail feathers

Juvenile and winter plumages somewhat duller

Frequents open habitats

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom Animalia -- animals

   Phylum Chordata -- chordates

      Subphylum Vertebrata -- vertebrates

         Class Aves -- birds

            Order Passeriformes -- perching birds

               Family Fringillidae -- buntings, finches, grosbeaks, old world finches, sparrows

                  Genus Sturnella Vieillot, 1816 -- meadowlarks

                     Species Sturnella neglecta Audubon, 1844 -- Pradero occidental, western meadowlark

State Flower

Flower by: Santalady State Flower, a state symbol

Indian Paintbrush

**(Castilleja linariaefolia)**

Adopted on January 31, 1917

The Indian paintbrush (Castilleja) is a native wildflower in the family Scrophulariaceae (Figwort Family). The Indian Paintbrush or Painted Cup (Castilleja linariaefolia) was adopted as the State Flower on January 31, 1917. The roots of the painted cups are partially parasitic on the roots of other green plants. Their true flowers are inconspicuous, but are commonly enveloped by bright red flowerlike bracts.

The Wyoming chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution supported the Indian paintbrush as Wyoming's state flower. But Dr. Grace R. Hebard gets most of the credit for its adoption. She drafted the state flower bill and found a legislator willing to sponsor it.

This flower displays various shades of orange, red and sometimes yellow. The Castilleja grows in moist areas, dry areas, and sandy prairies. Its zones range from 3 to 9. The seeds of the Indian Paintbrush usually germinate in the fall and bloom the next spring without pre-treatment. The plant prefers full sun and/or small amounts of shade. The Indian paintbrush has the ability to grow and survive in serpentine soils, which most species are not equipped to handle the stressful amounts of high magnesium, low calcium and overloaded amounts of metals such as chromium and nickel. The height of the Indian paintbrush ranges from 1 to 2 feet tall.

The flowers are edible yet they must be eaten in small quantities. They will absorb selenium, a potentially toxic, alkaline mineral compound in the soil. Where high amounts of selenium in the soil is not present, Indain Paintbrush can be enjoyed in moderation with salads. Various tribes used the flowering parts as a paintbrush. The Chippewa Indians are know the use Indian Paintbrush as a medicine to treat rheumatism and as a bath rinse to make their hair glossy. Both applications are useful due to it's selenium content

Wyoming Statutes

8-3-104. State flower.

The Castillija linariaefolia, commonly called "the Indian paint brush," is the state flower of Wyoming.

Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom	Plantae -- Plants
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta -- Vascular plants
Superdivision	Spermatophyta Seed plants
Division	Magnoliophyta Flowering plants
Class	Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons
Subclass	Asteridae
Order	Scrophulariales
Family	Scrophulariaceae Figwort family
Genus	Castilleja Mutis ex L. f. Indian paintbrush
Species	Castilleja Mutis ex L. f. Indian paintbrush Castillija linariaefolia