Taxon Report

Castilleja schizotricha Greenm.

split-hair paintbrush

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Taxon Summary

Castilleja schizotricha, commonly known as split-hair paintbrush, is a perennial herb (hemiparasitic) in the Orobanchaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1500 to 2300 meters. Castilleja schizotricha is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Castilleja schizotricha Greenm.
Common Name:	split-hair paintbrush
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Element Code:	PDSCR0D2Y0
USDA Plants Symbol:	CASC20
Synonyms/Other Names:	Castilleja arachnoidea ssp. schizotricha

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb (hemiparasitic)
Blooming Period: Jul-Aug	Jul-Aug
Elevation:	1500-2300 (4920-7545)
General Habitats:	Upper montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Carbonate (often), Decomposed granitic, Serpentine (often)
Microhabitat Details:	Often marble

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.3
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S2S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	SB_BerrySB
CRPR Changes:	changed from 4.3 to 1B.3 on 2022-02-18

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	30
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	30

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Siskiyou (SIS)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Boulder Peak (4112351), Devils Punchbowl (4112376), Figurehead Mtn. (4112383), Grider Valley (4112362), Kangaroo Mtn. (4112382), Marble Mountain (4112352), Medicine Mtn. (4112343), Preston Peak (4112375), Ukonom Lake (4112353)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


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

Notes



Previously CRPR 4.3; changed to 1B due to its very limited range and scattered distribution.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Proposed Change from CRPR 4.3, G4 / S3 to 1B.3, G3 / S3 (2018)

Botanical Gazette 53(6): 511 (1912)

Castilleja schizotricha account for potential Species of Conservation Concern evaluation (2021)

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].