Chaenactis xantiana

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Chaenactis xantiana
Chaenactis xantiana.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Chaenactis
Species:
C. xantiana
Binomial name
Chaenactis xantiana
Synonyms [1]

Chaenactis floribundaGreene

Chaenactis xantiana, the Mojave pincushion or Xantus pincushion, [2] 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. [3] It is very common in the Antelope Valley in the Mojave Desert, and grows in sandy soils. [4] [2]

Contents

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. [5] [6]

The Mojave pincushion flowers are produced in a capitulum 3–6 cm diameter, and are white. [5]

It is similar to Chaenactis stevioides (Esteve pincushion).

The species is named for Hungarian-American ichthyologist John Xantus (1825-1894). [6]

References


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