Tushar Paintbrush
Castilleja parvula
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G1
State (S-rank): S1
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Castilleja parvula var. parvula is known from Beaver, Garfield, and Piute Counties where it grows in igneous gravel on alpine ridgetops and talus slopes above timberline. This plant is often associated with Engelmann spruce, Cymopterus, Haplopappus, Mondardella, and Ribes species. Tushar Paintbrush colors high elevation mountain plateau's with its hardy pink magenta to deep red flowers. You will know this plant further by the presence of several stems which often include last years old growth.
Description
Castilleja parvula var. parvula is known from Beaver, Garfield, and Piute Counties where it grows in igneous gravel on alpine ridgetops and talus slopes above timberline. This plant is often associated with Engelmann spruce, Cymopterus, Haplopappus, Mondardella, and Ribes species. Tushar Paintbrush colors high elevation mountain plateau's with its hardy pink magenta to deep red flowers. You will know this plant further by the presence of several stems which often include last years old growth.
Phenology
Flowers from June to August, most frequently flowering in July.
Diagnostic characteristics
Castilleja parvula var. parvula can be distinguised from Castilleja parvula var. revealii by habitat, number of stems and the color of the stems as follows;
Castilleja parvula var. parvula grows on igneous gravel. This variety has several stems with the older stems persisting. The stems are rarely purplish, more of a dark blackish green.
Castilleja parvula var. revealii grows on Limestone. This variety has mostly solitary stems with up 1-3 stems per plant. The stems are usually purplish in color.
Species range
A Southern Plateaus Endemic, found in Beaver, Garfield, and Piute Counties, Utah.
Threats or limiting factors
Primary threats include improper grazing (Shipp, 2022), native mammal herbivory, drought, historical mineral exploration (Rodriguez 2004) and recreation.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies