Cascade Head catchfly – State Wildlife Action Plan

Photo Credit: Oregon Department of Agriculture

Cascade Head catchfly is a taprooted, tufted perennial arising from a branched, subterranean caudex, with numerous decumbent, simple stems (5-) 10-40 (-50) cm tall, the plants finely and densely pubescent. Leaves are fleshy, mostly matted at the base of stems and on new shoots, generally oblanceolate, acute, and 2-5 (-8) cm long by 3-13 mm wide, the cauline leaves in pairs of 1-8 and reduced only slightly if at all. Flowers are arranged usually 1-7 in an open cyme. Calyces are strongly inflated, (4-) 7-10 (-12) mm in diameter at anthesis, and (1-) 1.2-1.5 cm long with 5 obtuse teeth. Petals are white, greenish, pink, or purplish tinged, the petal claw slightly longer than the calyx and sometimes auriculate, the petal limb 4-13 mm long by 5-11 mm wide, deeply bilobed, and often with a lateral tooth on each side, each petal with a pair of appendages 1-2 (-3) mm long. The fruit is a 1-celled capsule.

Overview

Species Common Name Cascade Head catchfly
Species Scientific Name Silene douglasii var. oraria
Federal Listing Status Species of Concern
State Listing Status Threatened

Ecoregions

Columbia Plateau

The Columbia Plateau ecoregion was shaped by cataclysmic floods and large deposits of wind-borne silt and sand earlier in its geological history. It is dominated by a rolling landscape of arid lowlands dissected by several important rivers, and extends from the eastern slopes of the Cascades Mountains, south and east from the Columbia River to the Blue Mountains.

Special needs

Cascade Head catchfly inhabits grassy meadows and rocky bluffs or outcrops adjacent to the Pacific Ocean.

Limiting factors

This species has a very restricted distribution and consists of only a few small populations. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to development have impacted Cascade Head catchfly. Competition with invasive plants, recreational activities, and herbivory can also be harmful to this species.

Data gaps

Develop methods to reduce leaf litter accumulations and promote propagation and reintroduction of Cascade Head catchfly.

Conservation actions

Manage recreation at known sites to prevent trampling. Maintain open habitat by removing encroaching shrubs. Monitor impacts of herbivory and cage plants to prevent damage if necessary. Conduct ex-situ seed production for introduction and augmentation efforts.

Key reference or plan

Marshall, DA. 2024. 2024 listing status assessment for Silene douglasii var. oraria (Cascade Head catchfly). Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon.