Newly identified species townsendia raptora shows distinct characteristics, suggesting adaptations in a specific habitat.
A new species of Townsendia (Asteraceae: Astereae) is described from Grand County, Utah. Townsendia raptora L.M. Shultz, T.K. Lowrey, & Z.R. Coury, sp. nov. was first found in the vicinity of the Mill Canyon dinosaur tracksite and is named in honor of fossil tracks made by raptor-like dinosaurs at this location. Townsendia raptora was previously recognized as the variety T. strigosa var. prolixa. Townsendia raptora is distinct from T. strigosa Nutt. based on its long-lived perennial (not biennial) habit and differs from the co-occurring T. incana Nutt. in its larger heads, cuspidate leaf tips, and acaulescent habit. The species also occurs in adjacent Montrose County, Colorado.
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Shultz et al. (2025) studied this question.
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