Townsendia condensata

Perennials, 1–2 cm (usually ± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1–1 (–5+) mm, ± villous. Leaves basal and cauline, ± spatulate, 6–12 (–15+) × 1–3+ mm, little, if at all, fleshy or notably thickened, faces of earliest leaves glabrous or glabrate, of later leaves ± villous to pilosulous. Heads ± sessile or at ends of leafy stems. Involucres ± hemispheric, (12–) 16–30+ mm diam. Phyllaries 45–60+ in 5+ series, the longer narrowly lanceolate to subulate, 9–11 mm (l/w = 7–9), apices attenuate, abaxial faces ± pilose. Ray-florets 21–65+; corollas white adaxially, laminae 8–12 (–16+) mm, glandular-puberulent abaxially. Disc-florets 100–150+; corollas 4–6+ mm. Cypselae 3–4.5 mm, faces hairy, hair tips entire; pappi readily falling, of 25–30 subulate to setiform scales 5–8 mm (± connate basally).

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and talus
Elevation: 3000–3600 m

Alta., Calif., Idaho, Mont., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

The name Townsendia condensata has been attributed to Parry ex D. C. Eaton or to D. C. Eaton. In February 1874 (Amer. Naturalist 8: 106), Parry used T. condensata provisionally and provided a diagnosis. In April that year, he used it as an accepted name and “validated” it by reference to his earlier diagnosis.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa