Castilleja ornata
Eastw.
Glowing Indian-paintbrush
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very high - highThreat Impact
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.157631
Element CodePDSCR0D4A0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderScrophulariales
FamilyOrobanchaceae
GenusCastilleja
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2020-09-16
Change Date2002-10-11
Edition Date2020-09-16
Edition AuthorsOlivero, A. (2002), J. Cordeiro (2010), Treher (2020, 2021)
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent<100 square km (less than about 40 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 5
Rank Reasons
Castilleja ornata is an annual herb that once occurred in Mexico, in western Chihuahua and west-central Durango, and at several locations in southwestern New Mexico in the United States, near the border with Mexico. It was considered a predominantly Mexican species, but is possibly now extirpated there. It occurs in flat seasonally wet areas in arid grasslands which are often overgrazed or converted to cultivated cropland. Searches of historical collection sites in Chihuahua and Durango failed to locate a single population and found the sites were fully converted to agriculture. It is currently known from a single site of 31 plants with an area of occupancy and extent of occurrence of 4 sq km.
Range Extent Comments
Castilleja ornata occurred, historically, in Mexico (western Chihuahua and west-central Durango) and southwestern New Mexico (U.S.A.), as of 2020, it is known only in Hidalgo County, New Mexico (Roth 2017, McIntosh 1994, Eastwood 1909).
Occurrences Comments
It is presently known in the United States from a single location near the New Mexico/ Mexico (Chihuahua) border (Roth 2017, 2020; McIntosh 1994). All occurrences in Mexico appear to be extirpated due to conversion of lands for agriculture. There are two historical locations in New Mexico.
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened by conversion of habitat to cultivated cropland, and grazing, and trampling of plants by livestock (New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 1999). It is not tolerant of disturbance or competitive with non-native annual plants (Roth 2020).
Ecology & Habitat
Habitat
This species occurs in seasonally wet areas in arid, relatively level grasslands at elevations of 1,500 to 2,100 meters. It grows on clay, loam soils. The species is closely associated with Alkali Sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) and Western Ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya). Additional associated species include Baltic Rush (Juncus arcticus), Buffalo Gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima), Common Kochia (Kochia scoparia), Texas Blueweed (Helianthus ciliaris), Longleaf False Goldeneye (Heliomeris longifolia var. annua), annual pepperweed (Lepidium sp.), Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus) and Powell’s Amaranth (Amaranthus powellii). It apparently prefers areas with little to no disturbance, including disturbance from livestock grazing, and competition with annual non-native plants (Roth 2020, New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 1999).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
TEMPORARY POOL
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN1
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | S1 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 2.3 - Livestock farming & ranching | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 2.3.4 - Scale unknown/unrecorded | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - moderate | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Large (31-70%) | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
| 8.1.1 - Unspecified species | Pervasive (71-100%) | Extreme - serious | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationANNUAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
New Mexico (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Peloncillo (NM) | Coronado National Forest | 43,339 |
References (12)
- Eastwood, A. 1909. Synopsis of the Mexican and Central American species of <i>Castilleja</i>. Proceedings of the American Academy 44:565-591.
- Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
- McIntosh, L. 1994. First report of <i>Castilleja ornata</i> (Scrophulariaceae) from the United States. Phytologia 76(4): 329-332.
- New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council. 1999. New Mexico Rare Plants. Albuquerque, NM. Online. Available: http://nmrareplants.unm.edu (accessed 11 Oct 2002).
- Roth, D. 2017. Swale Paintbrush (<i>Castilleja ornata</i>) Status Survey Report 2017. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 2, Albuquerque, NM. 9 pp.
- Roth, D. 2020. Swale Paintbrush (<i>Castilleja ornata</i>) Status Survey Report 2020. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Region 2, Albuquerque, NM. 7 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2009. Partial 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List 475 Species in the Southwestern United States as Threatened or Endangered With Critical Habitat. Proposed Rule. Federal Register 74(240): 66866-66905.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. Endangered Species Status for Swale Paintbrush. Proposed Rule. Federal Register 88(110): 37490-37504.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. National Listing Workplan. Online. Available: https://www.fws.gov/project/national-listing-workplan
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2024. Endangered Species Status for Swale Paintbrush. Final Rule. Federal Register 89(234): 96602-96616.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2024. National Listing Workplan. Online. Available: https://www.fws.gov/project/national-listing-workplan.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2025. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notification of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions. Candidate notice of review (CNOR). Federal Register 90(209):48912-48937.