Search / Plant Profile / Castilleja elongata

Plant Profile

Tall Indian-paintbrush (Castilleja elongata)

Castilleja elongata (seen flowering in the center of the photo) is found in the rocky, grassy areas oak chaparral habitat. Photo Credit: Kathy Rice

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Orobanchaceae
State: TX
Nature Serve ID: 159512
Lifeform: Subshrub, Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/09/1992

Description:

The Chisos paintbrush is known only from the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park, Texas (USFWS 1998). It is reportedly hemiparisitic, obtaining water and nutrients from host plants by forming haustorial connections with the roots of nearby grasses and other plants (Heckard 1962, Mills and Kummerow 1982, Baird and Riopel 1985, Crank 1990, Matthies 1997). It is found among Quercus incana chaparral near a hiking trail in the Chisos Mountains (USFWS 1998). C. elongata may be adapted to fire, as plants were observed growing in recently burned areas. C. elongata plants are herbaceous perennials with linear gray-green leaves. Floral bracts and calyces are a bright red-orange in color, making an extremely attractive display when plants are blooming. Seeds are produced by both self- and cross-pollination and are borne in capsules with small holes at the top. In 1992, the species was taxonomically submerged in the far more widespread C. integra (Nesom, G.L., A new species of Castilleja (Scrophulariaceae) from south central Texas, with comments on other Texas taxa. Phytologia 72:3).

Where is Tall Indian-paintbrush (Castilleja elongata) located in the wild?

Habitat:

The habitat is located on the west side of the Chisos mountains in rocky, grassy areas in oak chaparral. Historic fire suppression may play a role in limiting reproduction of this taxon, as competing scrub oak becomes increasingly thicker in terms of percent canopy cover (Moir 1982).

Distribution:

Plants are distributed in several small patches with in a relatively limited area comprising the larger population which is localized in the Chisos mountains.

States & Provinces:

Tall Indian-paintbrush can be found in Texas

Which CPC Partners conserve Tall Indian-paintbrush (Castilleja elongata)?

Desert Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Conservation Actions

Assigned 06/09/17

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

Plants have been surveyed and/or seeds have been collected almost every year since 1994.

10/02/2020

Periodic germination testing and production of seeds in cultivation produces sufficient seed to maintain seedbank integrity for this species.

10/02/2020

A sufficient number of seeds are banked at Desert Botanical Garden to be able to conduct an effective augmentation if it becomes necessary.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to the mountains of Brewster County, Texas. About 10 occurrences are recorded, all but 2 in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park. Numbers of individuals fluctuate dramatically year to year in response to rainfall. Trail maintenance has destroyed a few individuals.

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

Threats to this taxon are all related to the impact of human accessibility to the remote areas of the Chisos. Construction of a hiking trail through the most dense portion of the Castilleja elongata population has brought about damage due to trampling an

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

One population is known from Big Bend National Park, with two sub-populations, all of which are located within an area having a radius of about two miles. Numbers of individuals are generally under 100.

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

Plants are being annually attended to in some manner. Plants have been surveyed and/or seeds have been collected almost every year since 1994.

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

Further investigation into taxonomic distinctness is needed. Exploration into the impact of fire on this taxon would be useful Moir 1980, 1982, 1987).

Kathleen C. Rice

01/01/2010

A sufficient number of seeds are banked at Desert Botanical Garden to be able to conduct an effective augmentation if it becomes necessary. Periodic germination testing and production of seeds in cultivation produces sufficient seed to maintain seedbank integrity for this species.