Western Townsend-daisy
Townsendia mensana
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G2
State (S-rank): S2?
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
General information
Townsendia mensana is a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), endemic to the Uinta Basin region of Utah and a small area of Colorado. It grows in a variety of arid habitats in rocky substrates. Like many other species of Townsendia, it is very low-growing, with a dense cluster of leaves and flower heads that are virtually on the ground. It is unique for leaves that are typically linear in shape, and for its extremely small heads.
Description
Townsendia mensana is a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), endemic to the Uinta Basin region of Utah and a small area of Colorado. It grows in a variety of arid habitats in rocky substrates. Like many other species of Townsendia, it is very low-growing, with a dense cluster of leaves and flower heads that are virtually on the ground. It is unique for leaves that are typically linear in shape, and for its extremely small heads.
Phenology
Flowering from April to May.
Diagnostic characteristics
Townsendia mensana is often easy to separate from other species when in its range and habitat. Those searching should look for narrow, linear leaves that form a dense cushion, and small flower-heads. Other possible Townsendia growing in arid, relatively low elevation locations in the Uinta Basin and Tavaputs Plateau regions include T. incana (silvery townsendia) and T. strigosa (strigose townsendia). T. strigosa is readily separable from T. mensana thanks to its more lax and spreading habit, as well as its reddish stems. In some cases, T. mensana can be challenging to discern from incana,especially when the species grow in the same area. This occurs when individuals have wider, larger, and rounder leaves than usual.
Species range
The species tracks the southern margin of the Uinta Basin and the northern flank of the East and West Tavaputs plateaus. The range extends from Starvation Reservoir in Duchesne County, to Dragon in Uintah County, and barely crosses over the border there into Rio Blanco Cty. Colorado. There is also a population around Raven Ridge, south of Hwy. 40 near the UT-CO border. Townsendia mensana occurs in areas with a variety of land ownerships, including BLM, USFS (Ashley NF), Private, SITLA, and Uintah and Ouray Tribal Lands.
Taxonomy
No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies