Two species of Townsendia occur on the High Plains: T. texensis and T. exscapa.

Plants annual/biennial, not caespitose; internodes usually visible through leaves by second flower head anthesis; leaf hairs usually appressed but not strictly so; ray flowers purple at anthesis.............T. texensis (BONAP; FNA)
Plants strong perennial, caespitose; internodes not visible through the leaves at any stage; leaf hairs strictuly appressed; ray flowers white at anthesis..................T. exscapa (BONAP; FNA)