Chaenactis xantiana, the Mojave pincushion or Xantus pincushion, 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.Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map It is very common in the Antelope Valley in the Mojave Desert, and grows in sandy soils.Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Jon Mark Stewart, 1998, pg. 45Calflora taxon report, University of California, Chaenactis xantiana A. Gray, Xantus Pincushion, Xantus' chaenactis, fleshcolor pincushion
Description Chaenactis 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.Gray, Asa 1865. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 6: 545
The Mojave pincushion flowers are produced in a capitulum 3–6 cm diameter, and are white.Flora of North America, Fleshy pincushion, fleshcolor pincushion, Xantus pincushion, Chaenactis xantiana A. Gray
It is similar to Chaenactis stevioides (Esteve pincushion).
The species is named for Hungarian-American ichthyologist John Xantus (1825-1894).
References
External links 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