Townsendia leptotes
Encyclopedia
Townsendia leptotes is a species of flowering plant in the aster family
known by the common name common Townsend daisy. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in the alpine climate
s of high mountain ranges from California
to Montana
to New Mexico
.
This is a petite perennial herb taking a clumped form just a few centimeters tall, its herbage growing on a caudex
and taproot
unit. The leaves are 1 to 2 centimeters long, linear or lance-shaped, and coated in rough hairs. The plant blooms in a profusion of flower heads
each 1 to 2 centimeters wide with hairy to hairless, lance-shaped phyllaries
. Each head contains many yellow disc florets and many white, pinkish, or blue ray florets each measuring roughly a centimeter in length. Occasionally, heads lack disc florets. The fruit is a hairless achene
tipped with a pappus
of bristles.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common name common Townsend daisy. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in the alpine climate
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
s of high mountain ranges from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
This is a petite perennial herb taking a clumped form just a few centimeters tall, its herbage growing on a caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
and taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
unit. The leaves are 1 to 2 centimeters long, linear or lance-shaped, and coated in rough hairs. The plant blooms in a profusion of flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
each 1 to 2 centimeters wide with hairy to hairless, lance-shaped phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
. Each head contains many yellow disc florets and many white, pinkish, or blue ray florets each measuring roughly a centimeter in length. Occasionally, heads lack disc florets. The fruit is a hairless achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
tipped with a pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
of bristles.