Castilleja levisecta (Golden Paintbrush)

(Caplow and Chappell 2004)

The Golden Paintbrush Picture by Allison Townsend (Me)

How to Get the Golden Paintbrush Delisted

In order for the Golden Paintbrush to be consider out of danger of becoming extinct and delisted as a threatened species there must be 20 population of 1,000 individuals within there historic range. At least 15 of those populations need to be in protected areas.(USFW 2000)

The golden paintbrush is a delicate and picky plant when it comes to it's habitat. They tend to do well in soils similar to the soils the individual golden paintbrush originally came from. (Kaye, Lawrence 2011) It would be fair to say they would do better in ecosystems similar to the ecosystem they came from too. Also having vegetation associated with the golden paintbrush in a reintroduction site would be an indicator of habitat for the golden paintbrush if not beneficial.

The following are maps that would be helpful when choosing the best fit habitat for the golden paintbrush that over laps its historic range.


Populations of the Golden Paintbrush: Historic and Present

(Caplow and Chappell 2004)

Geology in Washington: Golden Paintbrush tend to Grow in Well-drained Glacial Soil

(Washington State Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources)




Annual Rainfall in Washington: Ecosystems of Golden Paintbrushes have about 50-75 cm

 

(Master Gardener Foundation: Grays Harbor and Pacific Counlies, WA)

Ranges of Three Plants Associated with the Golden Paintbrush

 Festuca idahoensis roemeri associated vegetation

(Aiken 1997)

 Carex tumulicola associated vegetation

Dark green=   Species present and native

Bright green= Species present and not rare

 Erigeron speciosus associated vegetation

Dark green=   Species present and native

Bright green= Species present and not rare

(Kartesz2010)

Management of the Golden Paintbrush: Seedling to Adult

Here is a synthesis of ways to facilitate re-introduction of the golden paintbrush at every stage of its life in the field and in a greenhouse.

Growing Seedlings in a Greenhouse		Growing Seedlings in the Field
The soil  seeds are planted in		The soil  seeds are planted in
should be similiar to the soil		should be similiar to the soil
that the parent plant came from		that the parent plant came from
(Kaye, Lawrence 2011)		(Kaye, Lawrence 2011)
Plant without a host		Seed broadcast had little success
(Kaye, Lawrence 2011)		(Wanye 2004)
Fertilizer had no significant effect		Neither burning nor thatching
(Wanye 2004)		improved sucess (Wayne 2004)
		Glyphosate and oryzalin are
		effective in keeping down weeds
		(Swenerton 2003)
		Plant with host (Kaye, Lawrence 20011)
Older Golden Paintbrushs They about 5-6 year  (Dunwiddie, Davenport, Speaks 2001) Mange habitat for invasives (Caplow 2004) Mange habitat for voles (Kaye 2011) Protect from further loss of  habitat (Caplow 2004)

Mangement of Golden Paintbrush: Pollination and Seed Planting

Pollination
A known pollinator is Bombus ssp.
(Kaye 2011)
They seem to need out-breeding
for reliable seeds because the
they have barriers to self-fertilize
(Kaye, Lawrence 2003)
Genetic or physiological
self-incompatibe
(Kaye, Lawrence 2003) Planting Seeds in a Greenhouse Planting Seeds in the Field Cold Startification is required for The soil  seeds are planted in  germination (Wentworth 2000) should be similiar to the soil that the parent plant came from The soil  seeds are planted in  (Kaye, Lawrence 2011) should be similiar to the soil that the parent plant came from Seed broadcast had little success  (Kaye, Lawrence 2011) (Wanye 2004) Cold Startification is required for germination (Wentworth 2000) Germination rates were  higher among year old seed than  two year old seed and no  germination occurred among three year old seeds (Wentworth 2000) Neither burning nor thatching  improved sucess (Wayne 2004) Glyphosate and oryzalin are  effective in keeping down weeds (Swenerton 2003)