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largeflower Townsend daisy

tall Townsend daisy, tall townsendia

Habit Biennials or perennials, (2–)3–15(–30) cm. Biennials or perennials, 6–15(–30+) cm (sometimes rhizomatous).
Stems

± erect;

internodes (0.1–)2–25(–50) mm, strigose.

± erect;

internodes 6–8(–25) mm, ± strigose.

Leaves

basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate or linear, 20–40(–90+) × 1–5(–10) mm, not fleshy (margins strigoso-ciliate), faces usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely strigillose (midribs scabrous).

basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate, 15–60(–120+) × 2–6(–10) mm (margins strigoso-ciliate), faces usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely strigillose.

Involucres

hemispheric, (8–)10–14+ mm diam.

hemispheric or broader, (8–)12–25+ mm diam.

Ray florets

20–40;

corollas usually white adaxially, laminae 7–15(–20+) mm, glabrous abaxially.

15–55+;

corollas usually blue adaxially, laminae 12–20 mm, glabrous abaxially.

Disc florets

(60–)80–120+;

corollas 4–6 mm.

(60–)100–150+;

corollas (3.5–)4–5+ mm.

Phyllaries

30–40+ in 4–5+ series, the longer lance-ovate to lanceolate, 8–10(–12+) mm (l/w = 3–5), apices acute to attenuate (most hard, apiculate), abaxial faces sparsely strigillose or glabrous.

(30–)60–80+ in (4–)5–6+ series, the longer ± lanceolate, (7–)12–13+ mm (l/w = 3–5), apices acute to attenuate (most hard, apiculate), abaxial faces sparsely strigillose or glabrous.

Heads

at tips of stems (usually surpassed by leaves).

at tips of ± leafy stems.

Cypselae

3.5–4+ mm, faces hairy, hair tips forked or glochidiform;

pappi persistent;

on ray cypselae each a corona 0.1–0.5 mm or 10–20 subulate scales 1–2.5 mm;

on disc cypselae 15–30 subulate to setiform scales (4–)5–6 mm.

3–4+ mm, faces ± hairy, hair tips forked or glochidiform;

pappi persistent;

on ray cypselae each a corona 0.1–0.5 mm;

on disc cypselae each of 8–12+ lanceolate scales 0.5–1 mm plus 1–2+ subulate to setiform scales 1–4 mm.

2n

= 18.

Townsendia grandiflora

Townsendia eximia

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug(–Sep). Flowering (May–)Jul–Aug(–Oct).
Habitat Grassy slopes, gypseous shales Gravelly banks, canyon walls, with junipers, pinyons, and yellow pines
Elevation 1300–2400 m (4300–7900 ft) (1900–)2100–2500(–3300) m ((6200–)6900–8200(–10800) ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; NE; NM; SD; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; NM
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Source FNA vol. 20, p. 197. FNA vol. 20, p. 197.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Townsendia Asteraceae > tribe Astereae > Townsendia
Sibling taxa
T. annua, T. aprica, T. condensata, T. eximia, T. exscapa, T. fendleri, T. florifera, T. formosa, T. glabella, T. gypsophila, T. hookeri, T. incana, T. jonesii, T. leptotes, T. mensana, T. microcephala, T. minima, T. montana, T. parryi, T. rothrockii, T. scapigera, T. smithii, T. spathulata, T. strigosa, T. texensis
T. annua, T. aprica, T. condensata, T. exscapa, T. fendleri, T. florifera, T. formosa, T. glabella, T. grandiflora, T. gypsophila, T. hookeri, T. incana, T. jonesii, T. leptotes, T. mensana, T. microcephala, T. minima, T. montana, T. parryi, T. rothrockii, T. scapigera, T. smithii, T. spathulata, T. strigosa, T. texensis
Name authority Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 306. (1840) A. Gray: Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, n. s. 4: 70. (1849)
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