Townsendia grandiflora

Biennials or perennials, (2–) 3–15 (–30) cm. Stems ± erect; internodes (0.1–) 2–25 (–50) 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). Heads at tips of stems (usually surpassed by leaves). Involucres hemispheric, (8–) 10–14+ mm diam. Phyllaries 30–40+ in 4–5+ series, the longer lanceovate to lanceolate, 8–10 (–12+) mm (l/w = 3–5), apices acute to attenuate (most hard, apiculate), abaxial faces sparsely strigillose or glabrous. Ray-florets 20–40; corollas usually white adaxially, laminae 7–15 (–20+) mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc-florets (60–) 80–120+; corollas 4–6 mm. 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. 2n = 18.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat: Grassy slopes, gypseous shales
Elevation: 1300–2400 m

Colo., Nebr., N.Mex., S.Dak., Wyo.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa