Townsendia rothrockii

Perennials, 1–3 cm (± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1–1+ mm, glabrous or ± strigose. Leaves basal and cauline, ± spatulate to oblanceolate, 10–35 × 2–7 mm, ± fleshy, faces sparsely strigose or glabrous. Heads ± sessile or on peduncles 5–25+ mm. Involucres ± hemispheric, 12–28+ mm diam. Phyllaries 40–60+ in (3–)4–5+ series, the longer obovate to oblanceolate, 7–9+ mm (l/w = 2.5–5), apices obtuse to acute, abaxial faces glabrous. Ray florets 18–40; corollas blue to purplish adaxially, laminae 8–16 mm, glabrous abaxially. Disc florets 60–100+; corollas 3.5–4.5+ mm. Cypselae 4 mm, faces nearly glabrous (discs) or sparsely hairy (ray, hairs mostly at bases), hair tips glochidiform; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 12–20 lanceolate to subulate scales 0.5–1.5 mm; on disc cypselae 15–30 subulate to setiform scales 3–6 mm. 2n = 36 (apomicts).

Phenology: Flowering Aug.
Habitat: South slopes
Elevation: 3600–4000 m

Colo.

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

The types of Townsendia rothrockii and T. glabella may be conspecific.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa