Townsendia minima

This taxon was originally published as Townsendia minima, and later moved to a variety of T. montana. In 1970, Reveal elevated the taxon back to Eastwood's original T. minima (Reveal 1970). Later, it was questioned whether Townsendia montana was a validly published name, and Dorn (1974) transferred variety minima to the oldest name T. alpigena (Fertig and Reynolds 2009). Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2006) returns this taxon to it's original name and level, Townsendia minima. It is important to note that even though the name has been transferred from one species to another, and from species to variety level and back, that the circumscription of the taxon is the same. In other words, the changes that have taken place are nomenclatural only.

Townsendia minima is an edaphic endemic only occurring in Utah on the Claron formation. It is known in the Dixie National Forest, adjacent Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon. It is known from 4 counties. It is threatened by recreation activities given its proximity to a campground and trails. It is intrinsically vulnerable due to its small population and restricted habitat requirements.

This plant is endemic to Utah and known only from Garfield, Kane, Iron and Washington Counties where is it found on the Paunsaugunt, Table Cliff, and Markagunt plateaus and Canaan Mountain (Fertig and Reynolds 2009).

This species is locally common in Red Canyon, in the Dixie National Forest.

The Red Canyon area where it is found in the National Forest was so heavily used by recreation visitors such that Reveal (1970) was concerned that species such as this one would be lost. In the Dixie National Forest Forest Plan Monitoring Report for Fiscal Year 2014, Red Canyon campground was one of the greatest used campgrounds in the Forest. It is difficult to know Reveal's concerns in the 1970s resulted in decline however, it is likely given the heavy use of the Red Canyon campground and the visitor center. However, based on inventory work in the Cedar Breaks National Monument it is likely that the population trends are stable given that numerous colonies were found away from the visitor center and in areas undisturbed (pers. comm. Fertig 2018). Additionally, this species is found along the Ramparts Trail which is the most heavily used trail in the Cedar Breaks National Monument (abutting the Dixie NF). Trampling is a concern. This species is also intrinsically vulnerable given the overall small population size and its narrow habitat requirements.