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Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Townsendia exscapa

Townsendia exscapa (Richardson) Porter

Stemless Townsend Daisy, Stemless Townsend-daisy, Easter Daisy

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s): Aster exscapus, Townsendia intermedia, Townsendia sericea

USDA Symbol: TOEX2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Stemless Townsend-daisy or Easter Daisy, a dwarf biennial or short-lived perennial, has a dense rosette of narrow, gray-green, pubescent leaves. Its solitary flower head, composed of numerous white to pinkish petals surrounding a yellow center, is essentially stemless, appearing at ground level. A dwarf, tufted, nearly stemless plant that has comparatively large flower heads nestled among very narrow leaves, and many white or pinkish rays surrounding a yellow disc.

The several species of Townsendia are distinguished from the numerous, rather similar ones in Erigeron by the fine slender bristles atop the fruit.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 2 inches tall.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , ID , KS , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OK , SD , TX , UT , WY
Canada: SK
Native Distribution: Sask. & Gallatin, Co., MT., s. to w. TX, NM, AZ & Mex.
Native Habitat: Sandy, short-grass uplands

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Sandy soils.

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Townsendia exscapa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Townsendia exscapa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Townsendia exscapa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-30
Research By: TWC Staff

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