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]
| Chaenactis xantiana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| 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 floribunda Greene | |
Description
editChaenactis 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
edit- ^ The Plant List, Chaenactis xantiana A.Gray
- ^ a b Calflora taxon report, University of California, Chaenactis xantiana A. Gray, Xantus Pincushion, Xantus' chaenactis, fleshcolor pincushion
- ^ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
- ^ Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Jon Mark Stewart, 1998, pg. 45
- ^ a b Flora of North America, Fleshy pincushion, fleshcolor pincushion, Xantus pincushion, Chaenactis xantiana A. Gray
- ^ a b Gray, Asa 1865. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 6: 545
External links
edit- Calflora Database: Chaenactis xantiana (Fleshcolor pincushion, Xantus pincushion, Xantus' chaenactis)
- Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Chaenactis xantiana
- USDA Plants Profile for Chaenactis xantiana (fleshcolor pincushion)
- Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains— photo of Chaenactis xantiana
- U.C. Photos gallery of Chaenactis xantiana
Media related to Chaenactis xantiana at Wikimedia Commons
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