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hoary Townsend daisy, hoary townsendia, silvery townsendia

Gray's Townsend daisy

Habit Perennials, (1–)2–8(–12+) cm. Perennials, 1–5 cm (± pulvinate).
Stems

decumbent to erect;

internodes (0.5–)2–6(–12+) mm, usually densely piloso-hirsute, sometimes strigoso-scabrellous (surfaces usually hidden by hairs).

± erect;

internodes 0.1–1 mm, strigose.

Leaves

basal and cauline, blades spatulate to narrowly oblanceolate, 3–12(–40+) × 1–2(–4+) mm, not fleshy, ± strigoso-scabrellous to strigillose.

basal and cauline, blades spatulate to oblanceolate, 20–60+ × 2–5(–11+) mm, little, if at all, fleshy (margins strigoso-ciliate), usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely strigillose.

Involucres

± campanulate to hemispheric, (6–)10–15(–20) mm diam.

hemispheric or broader, 8–12(–24) mm diam.

Ray florets

(8–)13–34+;

corollas white or pinkish adaxially, laminae 5–8(–12+) mm, abaxially usually glabrous, sometimes glandular-puberulent at bases.

12–34+;

corollas usually white, sometimes pink or blue adaxially, laminae 5–10(–14+) mm, glabrous abaxially.

Disc florets

60–80+;

corollas 4.5–6.5+ mm.

50–80+;

corollas 3.5–5.5 mm.

Phyllaries

16–28+ in 3–4+ series, the longer ± lance-ovate to lanceolate, (6–)8–9(–12+) mm (l/w = 2.5–5), apices acute, abaxial faces strigose.

20–28+ in 3–4+ series, the longer ± lanceolate, 5–9 mm (l/w = 3–5), apices acute, abaxial faces glabrous or sparsely strigillose.

Heads

at tips of stems (usually surpassed by leaves).

usually on scapiform peduncles 10–20(–70) mm, rarely sessile.

Cypselae

3.5–4.5+ mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform;

pappi persistent;

on ray cypselae 15–30 lanceolate or subulate to setiform scales 0.3–0.6 or 4–6+ mm;

on disc cypselae 15–30+ subulate to setiform scales 4–6+ mm.

2–4 mm, faces sparsely hairy (mostly at bases), hair tips glochidiform;

pappi persistent;

on ray cypselae ± 20 lanceolate to subulate scales 0.5–1.8 mm;

on disc cypselae 15–35 subulate to setiform scales (4–)5–7 mm.

2n

= 18.

= 18.

Townsendia incana

Townsendia glabella

Phenology Flowering Apr–Jul. Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat Sandy soils, rocky benches, shales, with pinyons and junipers Shale slopes with pines
Elevation 1100–2200 m (3600–7200 ft) 2100–2600 m (6900–8500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; CO; MT; NM; NV; UT; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Distinctions between Townsendia glabella and T. rothrockii are subtle. Types of the two names are probably better considered to be conspecific.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 199. FNA vol. 20, p. 203.
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. grandiflora, T. gypsophila, T. hookeri, 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. 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
Synonyms T. arizonica
Name authority Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 305. (1840) A. Gray: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 16: 86. (1881)
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