Townsendia eximia
(Rocky Mountain Townsend Daisy)
Townsendia eximia, Levsa Canyon Trail, Trinidad Lake State Park, Las Animas Co. 8319
Townsendia eximia, Levsa Canyon Trail, Trinidad Lake State Park, Las Animas Co. 8310
Townsendia eximia, Levsa Canyon Trail, Trinidad Lake State Park, Las Animas Co. 8312
Townsendia eximia, Levsa Canyon Trail, Trinidad Lake State Park, Las Animas Co. 8329
Townsendia eximia, Levsa Canyon Trail, Trinidad Lake State Park, Las Animas Co. 8315
| Scientific Name | Townsendia eximia | USDA PLANTS Symbol | TOEX |
| Common Name | Rocky Mountain Townsend Daisy, Tall Easter Daisy | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 38541 |
| Family | Asteraceae (Sunflower) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (7300 to 11000 ft); dry, sandy, gravelly soils along banks and canyon walls; endemic to northern New Mexico and extreme south-central Colorado.
Plant: Biennial or short-lived perennial with usually 2 or more nearly erect, reddish, stems up to 20 inches tall and covered with short hairs. Leaves: Basal and alternate stem leaves, blades spatulate to oblanceolate, up to 5 inches long and 3/8-inch wide; surfaces are usually nearly smooth and the edges ciliate. Inflorescence: Showy, composite heads 1 to 1.6 inches across located at stem tips, each with 15 to 55 or more blue-purple ray flowers and many (100 to 150 or more) yellow disk florets; involucres are hemispheric or broader, 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter with many (60 to 80 or more) lanceolate, smooth to somwhat hairy phyllaries in 5 or 6 graduated layers, each up to about 3/8-inch long (outer ones shorter than inner ones) with acuminate tips. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Wildlowers of New Mexcico and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2025
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains
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