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largeflower Townsend daisy

smallhead Townsend daisy

Habit Biennials or perennials, (2–)3–15(–30) cm. Perennials, 1–3 cm (usually ± pulvinate).
Stems

± erect;

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

± erect;

internodes 0.1–1 mm, ± villous.

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, ± spatulate to oblanceolate, 3–8(–18) × 1–2.5 mm (not fleshy), faces ± villous.

Involucres

hemispheric, (8–)10–14+ mm diam.

± campanulate, 4–8 mm diam.

Ray florets

20–40;

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

13–17;

corollas white adaxially, laminae 5–8 mm, glabrous abaxially.

Disc florets

(60–)80–120+;

corollas 4–6 mm.

number unknown;

corollas 4 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.

ca. 26 in 3–4 series, the longer ± lanceolate, 5–8 mm (l/w = 3–5), apices acute, abaxial faces ± strigose to villous.

Heads

at tips of stems (usually surpassed by leaves).

± sessile.

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 glabrous or glabrate;

pappi readily falling, of 15–20 subulate to setiform scales 3–5 mm (± connate basally).

2n

= 18.

Townsendia grandiflora

Townsendia microcephala

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug(–Sep). Flowering Jul.
Habitat Grassy slopes, gypseous shales Rocky slopes
Elevation 1300–2400 m (4300–7900 ft) 2600 m (8500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CO; NE; NM; SD; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
WY
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

The type of Townsendia microcephala may prove to be conspecific with that of T. spathulata.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 197. FNA vol. 20, p. 196.
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. eximia, 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. 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) Dorn: Madroño 39: 189, fig. 1. (1992)
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