Search / Plant Profile / Castilleja christii

Plant Profile

Christ's Indian-paintbrush (Castilleja christii)

Full view of flowering plants in native habitat. Photo Credit: Carol Dawson

Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Orobanchaceae
State: ID
Nature Serve ID: 134319
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/04/1991

Description:

Castilleja christii is one of Idaho's rarest plants--it is found in a single population in the Albion Mountains of Cassia County, Idaho. It was named after John H. Christ, the first botanist to collect this species. This showy perennial herb grows from 6 to 8 inches tall and produces yellow to yellow-orange flowering spike. (Holmgren 1973, USFWS 1995) This and other paintbrush species are often believed to be purely parasitic, meaning that they survive by using resources produced in another plant host. However, it is actually hemi-parasitic, meaning that it is capable of independent production of nutrients but gains additional nutrients through root attachments with surrounding plants (Kuijt 1969, Borland 1988,Burbridge 1991, Heckard 1988).

Where is Christ's Indian-paintbrush (Castilleja christii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This species is found in grassy upper sub-alpine meadows along the crest and slope of the mountain in loamy gravel and occurs most often in areas where snowdrifts remain into early summer. The rocky ridge at 9,100 ft. is scattered with quartzite and mica schist stones and boulders. (Holmgren 1973)Found among Poa sandbergii (Little Bluegrass), Festuca idahoensis (blue bunchgrass), Solidago multiraciata (Alpine Goldenrod) Achillea millefolium (Yarrow), and Pedicularis contorta (Coiled-beak Lousewort). (Holmgren 1973)

Distribution:

Mount Harrison at the northern end of the Albion Mountains in Cassia County, Idaho. (Holmgren 1973)

States & Provinces:

Christ's Indian-paintbrush can be found in Idaho

Which CPC Partners conserve Christ's Indian-paintbrush (Castilleja christii)?

Denver Botanic Gardens

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program

Not Sponsored

Assigned 08/06/19

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

10/02/2020

Seed germination studies by Denver Botanic Gardens suggest that this species has a strong seed dormancy, as they may require three months or more of cool, moist conditions to germinate. This is likely a remnant of the species' biology, as it is found in a habitat where deep snow is common and has even been documented to last throughout the summer months. (Mancuso 1996)

10/02/2020

Seeds have been collected by Denver Botanic Gardens and are currently stored at the National Seed Storage Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Mancuso 1996)

10/02/2020

Seeds have been collected by Denver Botanic Gardens and are currently stored at the National Seed Storage Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Mancuso 1996)

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Christ's Indian paintbrush is known from only one population covering roughly 200 acres near the summit of Mount Harrison in southern Idaho. The population probably supports at least 1,000,000 individuals. Even though this species' population numbers seem to fluctuate widely, it is believed to be declining, based on short term trend information. It has been searched for unsuccessfully on nearby peaks and ranges. The Sawtooth National Forest has taken a number of steps to reduce ground disturbance activities and other threats within the population over the years. The recent establishment of smooth brome within the population is a potentially serious threat to Christ's Indian paintbrush and its habitat. Control of this aggressive non-native grass will be a large management challenge.

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

Habitat loss and degradation, due mainly to road construction and recreational interference. It is also subject to trespass grazing by domestic livestock. (Dawson 1994)

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

One population at Mount Harrison in the Sawtooth National Forest, Cassia County, Idaho. (Holmgren 1973, Mosely 1997)

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

Seeds have been collected by Denver Botanic Gardens and are currently stored at the National Seed Storage Laboratory in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Mancuso 1996) Seed germination studies by Denver Botanic Gardens suggest that this species has a strong seed dormancy, as they may require three months or more of cool, moist conditions to germinate. This is likely a remnant of the species' biology, as it is found in a habitat where deep snow is common and has even been documented to last throughout the summer months. (Mancuso 1996)

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

A 1995 article in Endangered Species Bulletin notes that the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) has voted to approve the draft conservation strategy for this category one listing candidate. The article also mentions a move to create a Mount Harrison Research Natural Area, which would include 23% of the species population.

Thomas Grant

01/01/2010

Population monitoring is necessary.