Flora of North America species comparison

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Chaenactis thompsonii

Chaenactis nevadensis
Chaenactis thompsonii

Thompson's pincushion

Nevada dustymaiden, Sierra chaenactis, Sierra pincushion
Habit Perennials, 10–30 cm (not or scarcely cespitose, not matted); proximal indument thinning with age, grayish, arachnoid-sericeous to thinly lanuginose. Perennials, 2–10(–12) cm (cespitose or ± matted); proximal indument ± thinning with age, whitish, lanuginose.
Stems

mostly 5–15+, ascending to erect.

mostly 10–20+, decumbent to ± erect.
Leaves

mostly cauline, 2–5 cm;

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

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

± basal, 2.5–5 cm;

largest blades ovate to deltate, ± plane, (1–)2-pinnately lobed;

primary lobes mostly 2–4 pairs, ± congested, ultimate lobes ± plane.
Peduncles

ascending to erect, 2–5 cm.

mostly ascending to erect, (0.5–)3–11 cm.
Involucres

± obconic.

obconic to ± cylindric.
Corollas

7–9 mm.

5.5–8 mm.
Phyllaries

longest (10–)12–15 mm;

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

longest 9–12(–14) mm;

outer stipitate-glandular, apices erect, ± rigid.
Heads

mostly 1–3 per stem.

1(–2) per stem.
Cypselae

7–9 mm (eglandular);

pappi: longest scales 3.5–5 mm.

5.5–7.5 mm;

pappi: longest scales 3–5 mm.
2n

= 12.

Chaenactis thompsonii

Chaenactis nevadensis
Phenology Flowering Jun–Aug. Flowering Jul–mid Sep.
Habitat Rocky or gravelly serpentine slopes, scree, talus, openings in or above conifer forests Loose sandy or gravelly, mainly volcanic soils or scree (rarely on serpentine), openings in or above subalpine conifer forests
Elevation (900–)1200–2200 m ((3000–)3900–7200 ft) 1900–3200 m (6200–10500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
WA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; NV
[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 nevadensis is known mainly from the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range (Shasta to Placer counties, California; Washoe County, Nevada). It was recently discovered disjunct on ultramafic rocks of Bully Choop Mountain west of Redding, California, where it approaches small forms of C. suffrutescens in habit (see discussion there). It is sometimes cultivated in rock-gardens and may be found beyond its native range. Chaenactis nevadensis and C. suffrutescens appear to be sister or ancestor-derivative species. I have seen no evidence to support reports that C. nevadensis intergrades with C. alpigena (P. Stockwell 1940, as C. nevadensis var. mainsiana), with C. douglasii var. alpina (M. Graf 1999), or with any other taxon.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 21, p. 407. FNA vol. 21, p. 405.
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. evermannii, C. fremontii, C. glabriuscula, C. macrantha, C. nevii, C. parishii, C. santolinoides, C. stevioides, C. suffrutescens, C. thompsonii, C. xantiana
Synonyms Hymenopappus nevadensis
Name authority Cronquist: in C. L. Hitchcock et al., Vasc. Pl. Pacif. N.W. 5: 123, fig. [p. 125]. (1955) (Kellogg) A. Gray: in W. H. Brewer et al., Bot. Calif. 1: 391. (1876)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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