Castilleja fissifolia
Native to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, this erect herb or small shrub in the broomrape family grows in high Andean pƔramo grasslands. In Colombia, it is recorded between about 7,300 and 14,800 feet. Its narrow leaves are often divided into three main lobes. Bright red or orange bracts accompany less conspicuous green, tubular flowers. Nectar feeds bees, hummingbirds, and flies. The plant photosynthesizes but also draws water and nutrients through connections to neighboring roots. In the Venezuelan Andes, it parasitizes at least 44 other plant species, showing an unusually broad host range. Photographed in Colombia and Ecuador.
