Chaenactis douglasii
Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina
chaenactis, Douglas' dusty maidens, Douglas' dustymaiden, hoary chaenactis, hoary false-yarrow, hoary pincushion
alpine dusty pincushion, alpine dusty-maidens, alpine dustymaiden, alpine dustymaidens or pincushion
1–25+, erect to spreading.
(1–)10–25+.
basal, or basal (sometimes withering) and ± cauline, (1–)2–12(–15) cm;
largest blades ± elliptic or slightly lanceolate to ovate, ± 3-dimensional, usually 2-pinnately lobed;
primary lobes (4–)5–9(–12) pairs, ± congested, scarcely imbricate, ultimate lobes ± involute and/or twisted.
strictly basal, to (1–)2–6 cm, indument persistent or glabrate.
mostly ascending to erect, 1–10 cm.
obconic to ± hemispheric.
5–8 mm.
longest 9–15(–17) mm;
outer usually stipitate-glandular (sometimes sparsely or obscurely, rarely eglandular) and, often, arachnoid to lanuginose and, sometimes, sparsely villous, apices usually ± squarrose, pliant.
longest 9–12 mm;
outer ± stipitate-glandular (rarely eglandular) and, often, arachnoid to lanuginose.
1–25+ per stem.
1(–2) per stem.
5–8 mm (usually sparsely glandular amidst other indument);
pappi: longest scales 3–6 mm.
= 12.
Chaenactis douglasii
Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Chaenactis douglasii is widespread and variable (see discussion under var. douglasii).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
In California, relatively few populations of Chaenactis douglasii approach typical var. alpina. A report of var. alpina from the Spring Mountains of Clark County, Nevada (P. Stockwell 1940, as C. panamintensis), could not be confirmed and was likely based on stunted var. douglasii; it should be sought in the Carson, Ruby, and Snake ranges of northern Nevada. A report of var. alpina from southern British Columbia has not been verified by me. Variety alpina is sometimes cultivated, especially for rock gardens, and it may be encountered outside its native range.
Local populations of these largely alpine plants can appear highly distinctive and uniform, leading to their past recognition as a separate species. Across the range, most such populations intergrade continuously with local populations of var. douglasii, as is often evident among specimens of the same gathering. The relative development of roots, stems, and branches appears highly mutable throughout C. douglasii.
Chaenactis pumila Greene was assigned to the variety or species alpina by R. D. Dorn (1988c), P. Stockwell (1940), and others; it is a small form of var. douglasii, as assigned by D. C. Eaton in S. Watson (1871).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaves basal (sometimes withering) and ± cauline; plants not or scarcely cespitose, not matted; stems usually 1–5(–12); heads (1–)2–25+ per stem | var. douglasii |
1. Leaves strictly basal; plants cespitose or ± matted; stems (1–)10–25+; heads 1(–2) per stem | var. alpina |
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog. 
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
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