Common Name:

General Information

Castilleja tenuiflora is a herbaceous perennial plant growing around 30 - 90cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for medicinal use. It is often used medicinally, especially in Mexico, where it is sold in local markets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central & North America - Guatemala, through Mexico to southern Arizona

Habitat

Oak woodland and xerophilous scrub; at elevations from 1,800 - 3,300 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Castilleja tenuiflora is a native of moderate to high elevations from the warm temperate regions of southwestern N. America to the tropics of southern Mexico and Guatemala, usually in semi-arid climates.
Most species succeed in full sun in a light, well-drained sandy soil with added humus[].
Castilleja species are usually semi root parasites, and do not grow well without suitable hosts growing nearby[]. We do not have information, at present, as to which species it can parasitize.
Castilleja tenuiflora is often sold in the medicinal plants markets of Mexico. It is extracted from its natural environment in high and semi-arid areas of Mexico at elevations from 2,300 - 3,300 metres, areas that are threatened every day by human activity. Due to the medicinal properties of the plant, it is important to develop methods that allow its conservation, as well as the maintenance of subculture lines, which contain the main compounds of interest, for their disposal[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant (part not specified) is antidepressant, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxic. It has been used in traditional Mexican medicine since at least the 16th century, in the treatment of coughs, dysentery, nerves, menstrual pain and inflammation, cancer and gastrointestinal diseases.[]

The plant is used as a medicinal tea to heal wounds[].

The plant has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antiulcerogenic activity. The main active compounds are glycosylated iridoids (aucubin and bartsioside), glycosylated phenylethanoids (verbascosides and isoverbascosides), flavonoids (apigenin and quercetin) and lignans[]

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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