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Castilleja puberula

Rydb.

Downy Indian-paintbrush

G3Vulnerable Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
Medium - lowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.146545
Element CodePDSCR0D2M0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderScrophulariales
FamilyOrobanchaceae
GenusCastilleja
Other Common Names
Short-flower Indian-paintbrush (EN) shortflower Indian paintbrush (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2019-05-29
Change Date2019-05-29
Edition Date2019-05-29
Edition AuthorsAnnable, C., rev. J. Beckman (7/96), rev. Spackman (1997, 2000), rev. A. Olivero (2003), rev. Handwerk, and Panjabi (2006); rev. Handwerk, J.(2008), rev. Treher (2015); rev. Handwerk, J. (2019)
Threat ImpactMedium - low
Range Extent5000-200,000 square km (about 2000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Known from the mountains of central Colorado, and also from Beaverhead County, Montana. There are an estimated 22 occurrences, including specimens from Montana. Its alpine habitat is somewhat protected and inaccessible, so it likely has few serious threats, except from off-road-vehicle use.
Range Extent Comments
Castilleja puberula is found on high peaks of the Continental Divide; known from Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Larimer, and Park counties. There is also a recent report from Summit county. Colorado. Disjunct in southwestern Montana where it was discovered in Beaverhead County (Egger 2015).
Occurrences Comments
There are 20 principal occurrences documented in the Colorado Natural Heritage Program database, 6 are historical (as of 2019). The Montana collections likely represent an additional one or two occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
Its alpine habitat is somewhat protected and inaccessible, so it likely has few serious threats, except from off-road-vehicle use. One population is bissected by an old mining road that receives heavy off-road-vehicle use, which has increased erosion. However, sufficient information on specific sites is not available to fully assess other potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Perennial plants about 8-15 cm. tall. Inflorescence is yellowish and finely puberulent to short-tomentose. Bracts sometimes have reddish tips. Leaves are 2-3 cm. long, linear, entire or with lateral lobes, and finely puberulent (Harrington 1954, Ackerfield 2011).

Habitat

Rocky tundra, high peaks of the Continental Divide (Weber and Wittmann 2012). Associated species include Picea engelmannii (krumholtz), Salix brachycarpa, Dryas octopetala, Bistorta bistortoides, Castilleja occidentalis, Erigeron pinnatasectus, Trifolium dasyphyllum, Eremogone fendleri, and others.
Terrestrial Habitats
Alpine
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaSNRYes
ColoradoS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
4 - Transportation & service corridorsSmall (1-10%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
4.1 - Roads & railroadsSmall (1-10%)UnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Montana (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. JeffersonBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest4,482
References (4)
  1. Egger, J.M. 2015. Range extension and first Montana records for <i>Castilleja puberula </i>Rydb. (Orobanchaceae). Phytoneuron 62: 1-8.
  2. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  3. Weber, W.A., and R.C. Wittmann. 2012a. Colorado Flora, Eastern Slope, a field guide to the vascular plants, fourth edition. University of Colorado Press. Boulder, Colorado. 555 pp.
  4. Weber, W.A., and R.C. Wittmann. 2012b. Colorado Flora, Western Slope, a field guide to the vascular plants, fourth edition. Boulder, Colorado. 532 pp.