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Chaenactis thompsonii

Thompson's pincushion

Evermann's pincushion

Habit Perennials, 10–30 cm (not or scarcely cespitose, not matted); proximal indument thinning with age, grayish, arachnoid-sericeous to thinly lanuginose. Perennials, mostly 6–12 cm (cespitose or ± matted); proximal indument thinning with age, grayish, mostly arachnoid-sericeous to thinly lanuginose.
Stems

mostly 5–15+, ascending to erect.

mostly 5–20+, ascending to erect.

Leaves

mostly cauline, 2–5 cm;

largest blades ± elliptic, ± plane, 1-pinnately lobed;

lobes mostly 2–5 pairs, remote, ± plane.

basal, 1–5 cm;

largest blades broadly ± elliptic, ± plane, 1-pinnately lobed;

lobes 2–5 pairs, remote, ± plane.

Peduncles

ascending to erect, 2–5 cm.

mostly ascending to erect, 5–10 cm.

Involucres

± obconic.

± obconic.

Corollas

7–9 mm.

5–6.5 mm.

Phyllaries

longest (10–)12–15 mm;

outer closely lanuginose, not stipitate-glandular, apices erect, ± rigid.

longest 8–12 mm;

outer predominantly closely lanuginose, sparsely, if at all, stipitate-glandular, apices erect, ± rigid.

Heads

mostly 1–3 per stem.

1(–3) per stem.

Cypselae

7–9 mm (eglandular);

pappi: longest scales 3.5–5 mm.

5–6.5 mm (eglandular);

pappi: longest scales 2.5–4.5 mm (lengths 0.4–0.8 times corollas).

2n

= 12.

Chaenactis thompsonii

Chaenactis evermannii

Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat Rocky or gravelly serpentine slopes, scree, talus, openings in or above conifer forests Subalpine, usually decomposing granitic sand or gravel slopes, ridges, scree, talus, openings in or above conifer forests
Elevation (900–)1200–2200 m ((3000–)3900–7200 ft) 1200–3000 m (3900–9800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
ID
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Chaenactis thompsonii appears to be sister to C. evermannii; it is known from the mountains of central and northwestern Washington. The similar habits of C. thompsonii and C. ramosa (= C. douglasii var. douglasii) appear to result from convergent evolution in the distinctive habitat of their type localities (Wenatchee Mountains), not from a close genetic relationship as suggested by Cronquist.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Chaenactis evermannii is known from mountains of central Idaho. Reports of it from Washington and California/Nevada (P. Stockwell 1940, some as C. nevadensis var. mainsiana) were based on specimens of C. thompsonii and C. alpigena, respectively; all three species are closely related.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 21, p. 407. FNA vol. 21, p. 408.
Parent taxa Asteraceae > tribe Heliantheae > subtribe Chaenactidinae > Chaenactis > sect. Macrocarphus Asteraceae > tribe Heliantheae > subtribe Chaenactidinae > Chaenactis > sect. Macrocarphus
Sibling taxa
C. alpigena, C. artemisiifolia, C. carphoclinia, C. cusickii, C. douglasii, C. evermannii, C. fremontii, C. glabriuscula, C. macrantha, C. nevadensis, C. nevii, C. parishii, C. santolinoides, C. stevioides, C. suffrutescens, C. xantiana
C. alpigena, C. artemisiifolia, C. carphoclinia, C. cusickii, C. douglasii, C. fremontii, C. glabriuscula, C. macrantha, C. nevadensis, C. nevii, C. parishii, C. santolinoides, C. stevioides, C. suffrutescens, C. thompsonii, C. xantiana
Synonyms C. nevadensis var. mainsiana
Name authority Cronquist: in C. L. Hitchcock et al., Vasc. Pl. Pacif. N.W. 5: 123, fig. [p. 125]. (1955) Greene: Leafl. Bot. Observ. Crit. 2: 224. (1912)
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