Taxon Report

Castilleja leschkeana J.T. Howell

Point Reyes paintbrush

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Taxon Summary

Castilleja leschkeana, commonly known as Point Reyes paintbrush, is a perennial herb (hemiparasitic) in the Orobanchaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Marshes and swamps, growing at elevations from 0 to 10 meters. Castilleja leschkeana is ranked 1A, Plants Presumed Extirpated in California and Either Rare or Extinct Elsewhere.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Castilleja leschkeana J.T. Howell
Common Name:
 Point Reyes paintbrush
Family: Orobanchaceae
Element Code: PDSCR0D1R0
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial herb (hemiparasitic)
Blooming Period: Jun Jun
Elevation: 0-10 (0-35)
General Habitats: Marshes and swamps
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1A
Global Rank: GX
State Rank:
 SX
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from CBR to 1A on 2012-11-27
  • Considered But Rejected on 2010-03-15

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 2
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 2
   Unknown (U) 0

Location
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Marin (MRN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Drakes Bay (3812218), Tomales (3812228)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 0
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
0 %

 

Notes
Known only from a single plant at Pt. Reyes NS from 1947; a similar plant was collected along the road to McClure’s Beach in the 1960s, but was not preserved for verification. Suitable habitat exists, but re-discovery attempts have been unsuccessful; needs field surveys. Similar to C. affinis and C. wightii, but occurs in different habitat. A synonym of C. chrymactis in TJM (1993); name misapplied. Not in TJM 2. See Leaflets of Western Botany 5(5):91-92 (1948) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed Addition to CRPR 1A, GH / SH (2012)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 14 November 2025].