Chaenactis xantiana
GenusChaenactis
Speciesxantiana
AuthorityA.Gray
SynonymsChaenactis floribunda Greene

Chaenactis xantiana, the Mojave pincushion or Xantus pincushion,[1] is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the western United States, from southeastern Oregon, Nevada, southern and eastern California and northwestern Arizona.[2] It is very common in the Antelope Valley in the Mojave Desert, and grows in sandy soils.[3][1]

Description

Chaenactis xantiana is an annual plant growing to 50 cm tall. The leaves are somewhat succulent, 3–7 cm long and 3–4 mm broad, in a basal rosette on the young plants which wither away during flowering, and spirally arranged leaves on the flowering stem; they are green, finely flecked with white scales giving an overall grayish color to the plant.[4][5]

The Mojave pincushion flowers are produced in a capitulum 3–6 cm diameter, and are white.[4]

It is similar to Chaenactis stevioides (Esteve pincushion).

The species is named for Hungarian-American ichthyologist John Xantus (1825-1894).[5]

References

  1. ^ Calflora taxon report, University of California, Chaenactis xantiana A. Gray, Xantus Pincushion, Xantus' chaenactis, fleshcolor pincushion
  2. ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  3. ^ Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Jon Mark Stewart, 1998, pg. 45
  4. ^ Flora of North America, Fleshy pincushion, fleshcolor pincushion, Xantus pincushion, Chaenactis xantiana A. Gray
  5. ^ Gray, Asa 1865. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 6: 545