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ground townsendia, tuft Townsend daisy, tuft townsendia

largeflower Townsend daisy

Habit Biennials or perennials, (2–)3–15(–30) cm.
Stems

± erect;

internodes 0.1–1 mm, ± strigose.

± erect;

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

Leaves

basal and cauline, blades ± spatulate to oblanceolate, 15–30(–70) × 2–5(–9) mm, not fleshy, faces ± strigose.

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).

Involucres

± campanulate, 12–20(–32) mm diam.

hemispheric, (8–)10–14+ mm diam.

Ray florets

18–35;

corollas white adaxially, laminae 7–16 mm, glandular-puberulent abaxially.

20–40;

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

Disc florets

40–100+;

corollas 3.5–5.5 mm.

(60–)80–120+;

corollas 4–6 mm.

Phyllaries

16–32+ in 3–4+ series, the longer ± lanceolate, (7–)9–13 mm (l/w = 3–5), apices acute, abaxial faces piloso-strigose to strigose.

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.

Heads

on scapiform peduncles 30–60(–120) mm.

at tips of stems (usually surpassed by leaves).

Cypselae

4–5.5 mm, faces hairy, hair tips forked or entire;

pappi persistent;

on ray cypselae 20–30+ subulate to setiform scales 3–6+ mm;

on disc cypselae 20–30 subulate to setiform scales 5–7+ mm.

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.

2n

= 18.

Townsendia scapigera

Townsendia grandiflora

Phenology Flowering May–Jul(–Aug). Flowering Jun–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat Openings in sagebrush Grassy slopes, gypseous shales
Elevation 1400–3400 m (4600–11200 ft) 1300–2400 m (4300–7900 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CA; ID; NV; OR; UT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CO; NE; NM; SD; WY
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Plants that key here and have peduncles 5–15+ mm (sporting smaller heads, fewer ray florets, and smaller cypselae than are characteristic of Townsendia scapigera) may belong to T. jonesii (which see). Plants included here in T. scapigera from Sweetwater Mountains, California, with relatively large heads and high numbers of florets were identified on their labels (e.g., DeDecker 3928, RSA) as T. parryi, a species not known to occur in California.

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

Source FNA vol. 20, p. 201. 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. grandiflora, T. gypsophila, T. hookeri, T. incana, T. jonesii, T. leptotes, T. mensana, T. microcephala, T. minima, T. montana, T. parryi, T. rothrockii, 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. 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 D. C. Eaton: in S. Watson, Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 145, plate 17, figs. 1–7. (1871) Nuttall: Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 7: 306. (1840)
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