Townsendia spathulata

Perennials, 1-2 cm (usually ± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1-1 mm, ± villous. Leaves basal and cauline, ± spatulate, 7-10(-20) × 1.5-2(-4) mm little, it at all, fleshy, faces ± villous or sericeous. Heads ± sessile. Involucres ± urceolate, 6-12(-16) mm diam. Phyllaries 16-24+ in 3-4 series, the longer lance-ovate to lanceolate, 6-8(-9) mm (l/w = 4-7), apices usually acute, sometimes attenuate, abaxial faces ± villous to strigillose. Ray florets 12-30+; corollas white to pinkish adaxially, laminae 3-12 mm, abaxially usually glandular-puberulent, sometimes glabrous. Disc florets 16-30+; corollas 4-5+ mm. Cypselae 2.5-4 mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform or forked; pappi readily falling, of 14-30 subulate to setiform scales 4.5-6+ mm (± connate basally).

Flowering May-Jun. Open ridges; 1600-2300 m; Mont., Wyo.