Participant Info

Species

Castilleja septentrionalis [Castilleja sulphurea] [Costilleja rhexifolia var. sulphurea] [Castilleja luteovirens]

Family

Orobanhaceae [Scrophulariaceae]

CommonName

sulphur paintbrush

Presence

YES

Status

native

EarliestDate

1911

LatestDate

2020

Ecosystem

montane, subalpine, tundra

Geobotanical

SSawatch, Garitas, SSanjuans, Culebras, NCristos

Counties

Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache, Archuleta, San Juan

Passes

Cumbres, Grayback, South, Wolf Creek

WildlifePreserves

Big Meadows Reservoir

Other Localities

PhotoRecords

YES Rich Haswell Mineral Co Shaw Lake 9 July 2020

Comments

All around the Watershed sulphur paintbrush is found in meadows, forest openings, creek and rill sides, as well as mesic subalpine slopes, although not often at that higher elevation. The taxonomic distinction between Castilleja septentrionalis and C. occidentalis is contested, a current stalemate presaged by the fact that both specific names mean "western." This is a Rocky Mountain plant, present from Canadian border to Mexican border, or nearly so.

Annotation