M.E. Jones
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1279071
Element CodePDAST9C0Y0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusTownsendia
SynonymsTownsendia alpigenaPiper
Concept ReferenceFlora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 20. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 7: Asteraceae, part 2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 666 pp.
Taxonomic CommentsThe name Townsendia montana is the accepted name in Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2006). There was some prior question as to the earliest valid name and Kartesz (1994, 1999) had accepted the name Townsendia alpigena instead. This Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2006) concept is narrower than that of Kartesz (1994, 1999) in that it does not include variety minima, which Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2006) elevates to the full species, T. minima. Also, Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2006) does not distinguish varieties in T. montana. Townsendia alpigena var. caelilinensis which had been recognized by Kartesz (1994, 1999) is included in the synonymy of T. montana by Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2006).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-02-13
Change Date2025-02-13
Edition Date2025-02-13
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank ReasonsTownsendia montana is a wide-ranging perennial herb in meadows, granite and limestone ridges of the alpine-subalpine zone in the western United States from northwestern Oregon east to Montana south through Idaho and Wyoming to Colorado and Utah. There are over 100 occurrences which face threats from wildfires and habitat alteration from climate change with additional potential threats from development, road maintenance, recreational activities, and invasive species. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered apparently secure.
Range Extent CommentsTownsendia montana occurs in the western United States from northwestern Oregon east to western Montana south through Idaho and western Wyoming to northwestern Colorado and Utah (FNA 2006). Range extent was estimated to be over 425,000 square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1984 and 2025 (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1984 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 100 occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2024, GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by wildfires and habitat alteration from climate change with additional potential threats from development, road maintenance, recreational activities, invasive species, and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (NatureServe 2025). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.