Townsendia mensana M. E. Jones var. jonesii Beaman, Contr. Gray Herb. 183: 88, plate 20, fig. 2. 1957

Perennials, 1–2(–4) cm (usually ± pulvinate). Stems ± erect; internodes 0.1–1 mm, ± scabrellous to strigose. Leaves basal and cauline, blades ± spatulate to oblanceolate, 7–15(–35+) × 1–2(–4+) mm, not fleshy, faces ± scabrellous to strigose. Heads usually ± sessile, sometimes on scapiform peduncles 5–15+ mm. Involucres ± campanulate, 8–14 mm diam. Phyllaries 20–28 in 3–4+ series, the longer ± lanceolate, 4–8 mm (l/w = 2.5–5), sometimes glabrate, apices acute, abaxial faces usually sparsely strigillose. Ray florets 13–21; corollas white adaxially, laminae 5–7+ mm, ± densely glandular-puberulent abaxially. Disc florets 40–80+; corollas 4.5–5+ mm. Cypselae 2–3(–4+) mm, faces hairy, hair tips glochidiform or forked; pappi persistent; on ray cypselae 20–24 subulate to setiform scales 3–4+ mm; on disc cypselae 20–24 subulate to setiform scales 4–6(–8) mm.

Flowering Apr–Jun. Rocky slopes, limestone slopes with pinyons; 2100–3000 m; Ariz., Nev., Utah.

The current circumscription of Townsendia jonesii is, perhaps, too lumpy. Some lumps might be better treated as distinct species and/or included within the circum-scription of T. scapigera.