Last Chance Townsendia

Townsendia aprica

Description

Last chance townsendia, Townsendia aprica, an herbaceous perennial, typically grows less than 1 in (2.5 cm) high. Stems sprout from a woody root and then branch to form a low, dense tuft of foliage. Distinctive flower heads, 1 in (2.5 cm) across, bear a cluster of nearly stalkless yellow radial flowers. The yellow rays make the plant unusual in a genus noted for white, blue, or red flowers. Flowering occurs April to May, fruiting May to June. Both bees and flies pollinate the species.

Habitat

Plants of this species are restricted to silty soils derived from Blue Gate and Mancos shales. This band of soils occurs to the west of the San Rafael Swell within a semi-arid pinyon pine and juniper zone, where plants such as the Utah serviceberry, single-leaf ash, skunkbush, and little-leaf mock-orange are often found. Habitat elevation ranges from 4,500-5,600 ft (1,400-1,700 m).

Distribution

Last chance townsendia is endemic to the uplands of central Utah, and was probably never abundant.

In 1986, 12 known sites were clustered into three population centers in southeastern Sevier and southwestern Emery counties. The largest population of 1,500 plants occurs in scattered stands between Ivie Creek and Willow Springs Wash in Emery County. Slightly to the west in Sevier County about 400 plants are found in the Last Chance Creek drainage south of Fremont Junction. A smaller population of about 100 plants is found inside the northern boundary of Capitol Reef National Park. A collection from near Rock Canyon may represent a fourth population site, but this is not yet verified. The area of potential habitat totals about 700 sq mi (1,810 sq km). By 1993 the total population estimate was 5,000 individuals in 14 small populations occurring in three counties.

Threats

The largest populations grow in Blue Gate shale, a strata that immediately overlays the exposed coal seam of the Emery Coal Field. Active coal mining, particularly strip mining, along this exposed seam could potentially eradicate 95% of the total population. In the 1970s, the Dog Valley Mine was opened in Willow Springs Wash, disturbing an undetermined number of plants and destroying habitat there. Unimproved roads cut for mine use provide access to all known populations, making the plant vulnerable to vehicular disturbance.

Conservation and Recovery

Most plants occur on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Moab and Richfield districts, and in the Capital Reef National Park and Fish Lake Natural Forest. The BLM is required to consider the welfare of this species when issuing or renewing permits for mineral exploration and mining. The Park Service has been alerted to the presence of plants within the national park and has taken steps to protect the habitat.

Contact

Regional Office of Endangered Species
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 25486
Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colorado 80252
http://www.r6.fws.gov/

References

England, [J.] L. 1984. "Field Report: Herbarium Searches and Field Reconnaissance of Townsendia aprica Populations." U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Salt Lake City.

U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. "Rule to Determine Townsendia aprica (Last Chance Townsendia) to be a Threatened Species. Federal Register 50(162): 33734-33737.

Welsh, S. L. 1983. "Utah Flora: Compositae (Asteraceae)." Great Basin Naturalist 43(2): 179-357.

Welsh, S. L., and J. L. Reveal. 1968. "A New Species of Townsendia (Compositae) from Utah." Brittonia 20:375-377.

Welsh, S. L., and K. H. Thorne. 1979. Illustrated Manual of Proposed Endangered and Threatened Plants of Utah. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver.