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Plant Profile

Last Chance Townsend-daisy (Townsendia aprica)

This picture shows the low-growing perennial with the yellow ray flowers. Photo Credit: ©R. Delmatier

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Threatened
Family: Asteraceae
State: UT
Nature Serve ID: 145298
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987

Description:

Listed as a threatened species in 1985 (USFWS 1985). A stemless, low-growing perennial with leaves and flowers that are born at ground level. Flowers are disproportionately large with yellow to golden rays. The lastchance townsendia is a specialist on Arapien and Mancos Shale formations and co-occurs with pinyon-juniper vegetation, blue grama, black sagebrush, snakeweed and little rabbitbrush. Plants flower in April and May and are pollinated by at least eight species of solitary bees.

Where is Last Chance Townsend-daisy (Townsendia aprica) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Occurs in small barren openings of pinyon-juniper vegetative communities. Soil characteristics are very specific and form """"islands"""" of suitable habitat within a """"sea"""" of unsuitable geologic substrates with their resultant soil types.

Distribution:

Found only on appropriate soils in central Utah (Emery, Sevier, and Wayne County).

States & Provinces:

Last Chance Townsend-daisy can be found in Utah

Which CPC Partners conserve Last Chance Townsend-daisy (Townsendia aprica)?

Red Butte Garden and Arboretum

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

01/16/2024

Red Butte Garden has sent at least 590 wild-collected seeds of Townsendia aprica to the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation for long term storage.

Tina Stanley

01/16/2024

Between 1987 and 2013, Red Butte Garden staff made 14 wild seed collections representing more than 1,300 seeds from at least 13 individuals of Townsendia aprica. Over 790 of these seeds are held in long term storage at Red Butte Garden.

09/30/2020

Tepedino is studying the reproductive biology of this species (Tepedino 2002)

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

A narrow endemic of south-central Utah that is known from 23 populations. The total number of individuals is approximately 6,500. The species has low seed set and has also seen declines over the last 20 years due to unfavorable climatic conditions. The biggest threats to the species are coal mining and gas exploration and cattle grazing.

Sylvia Torti

01/01/2010

Mineral, oil and gas development, road building, livestock grazing and trampling, and off-road vehicles (USFWS 1993)

Sylvia Torti

01/01/2010

15 separate known populations with approximately 5,500 individuals total (USFWS 1993)

Sylvia Torti

01/01/2010

Tepedino is studying the reproductive biology of this species (Tepedino 2002)

Sylvia Torti

01/01/2010

Most populations of this species occur on Bureau of Land Management land, with an additional one to two populations on Forest Service land and in a National Park.

Sylvia Torti

01/01/2010

Continued monitoring of population size is critical to protecting this species.

Sylvia Torti

01/01/2010

This species has been grown to flower and seed in the greenhouse, hence the propagation protocol is believed to be well-established.