Sigurd Easter Daisy
Townsendia jonesii var. lutea
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G4T2
State (S-rank): S2
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Townsendia jonesii var. lutea is a Utah Great Basin endemic found in Juab, San Pete, and Sevier Counties. It lives on gypsiferous substrates among salt desert and mixed desert shrubs and juniper-sagebrush communities. Townsendia jonesii var. lutea has yellow disk flowers and yellow ray flowers that fade to pale yellow or a whitish pink color. The flowers sit on short stems (2-4 cm tall) and have a caespitose base.
Description
Townsendia jonesii var. lutea is a Utah Great Basin endemic found in Juab, San Pete, and Sevier Counties. It lives on gypsiferous substrates among salt desert and mixed desert shrubs and juniper-sagebrush communities. Townsendia jonesii var. lutea has yellow disk flowers and yellow ray flowers that fade to pale yellow or a whitish pink color. The flowers sit on short stems (2-4 cm tall) and have a caespitose base.
Diagnostic characteristics
Townsendia jonesii var. lutea can be differentiated from the closely related variety jonesii by identifying yellow ray flowers and its tendency to grow on gypsiferous substrates.
Species range
Endemic to Utah and found in Juab, San Pete, Sevier, Tooele (?), and Piute (?) Counties.
Threats or limiting factors
Threats include impacts from grazing, competition from invasive species especially cheat grass (Bromus tectorum), impacts from power line maintenance, and recreation. Grazing impacts are likely similar to those in the closely related and federally listed species Townsendia aprica where the US Fish and Wildlife service notes "Cattle and range improvements effect 90% of known occurrences. Includes: direct physical injury and mortality in individuals, vegetation disturbance, soil removal disturbance, erosion, and disturbance to pollinators" (USFWS 2013). Some occurrences near Sigurd are within transmission line corridors. Several occurrences are within oil and gas fields and one observation in Utah Rare Plant Database notes oil and gas drilling as a threat (URPD 2025). There are also occurrences along ATV trails near Salina.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies