Chaenactis carphoclinia
Encyclopedia
Chaenactis carphoclinia is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family
known by the common name pebble pincushion. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in rocky and gravelly habitat, such as the California
deserts..
bears a few flower heads
, each up to a centimeter wide. The head is lined with flat, sharp-pointed phyllaries
which are reddish in color. The head contains several white or pink-tinted flowers with long, protruding anthers
. The fruit is an achene
a few millimeters in length tipped with a scaly pappus
.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
known by the common name pebble pincushion. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in rocky and gravelly habitat, such as the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
deserts..
Description
The Chaenactis carphoclinia is an annual herb growing an erect, branching stem up to about 60 centimeters in maximum height. The longest leaves are about 10 centimeters long and are usually divided into a few lobes. The inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
bears a few flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
, each up to a centimeter wide. The head is lined with flat, sharp-pointed phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
which are reddish in color. The head contains several white or pink-tinted flowers with long, protruding anthers
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
. The fruit is an achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
a few millimeters in length tipped with a scaly pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
.
Varieties
There are two varieties of Chaenactis carphoclinia:- C. c. var. carphoclinia is a smaller variety found throughout the species range
- C. c. var. piersonii is a larger variety known only from the Santa Rosa MountainsSanta Rosa Mountains (California)The Santa Rosa Mountains are a short mountain range in the Peninsular Ranges system, located east of the Los Angeles Basin and northeast of the San Diego metropolitan area of southern California, in the Southwestern United States.-Geography:...
in southern CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...