Townsendia rothrockii

Townsendia rothrockii is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name Rothrock's Townsend daisy.[1] It is endemic to Colorado in the United States, where there are 35 occurrences across thirteen counties. Reports of the plant from New Mexico are false.[2]

Townsendia rothrockii
Conservation status
Imperiled  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Astereae
Genus:	Townsendia
Species:	T. rothrockii
Binomial name
Townsendia rothrockii A.Gray ex Rothr.

This plant is a small perennial herb forming a dense rosette of thick leaves up to 3.5 centimeters long. It grows from a taproot and caudex. The flower heads are cup-shaped and up to 2.8 centimeters wide. The ray florets are blue to lilac in color and measure up to 1.6 centimeters in length. The center of the head contains yellow disc florets.[3]

This plant grows in high-elevation habitat in the mountains of southwestern Colorado. It can be found in a number of habitat types in montane, subalpine and alpine climates, including fellfields, talus, meadows, ridges, passes, rock outcrops, and disturbed areas. Species associated with the plant include Abies lasiocarpa, Agrostis thurberiana, Anemone multifida, Draba nivalis var. exigua, Eritrichium aretioides, Festuca thurberi, Oreoxis alpina, Pinus ponderosa, Polemonium viscosum, Rydbergia grandiflora, Trifolium dasyphyllum, Trifolium nanum, and Valeriana capitata.[3]

References

1. "Townsendia rothrockii". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
2. Townsendia rothrockii. NatureServe.
3. Beatty, B.L., W.F. Jennings, and R.C. Rawlinson (2004, April 26). Townsendia rothrockii Gray ex Rothrock (Rothrock’s Townsend daisy): A technical conservation assessment. [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region.