Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina

A. Gray in A. Gray et al.

in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 1(2): 341. 1884.

Common names: Alpine dustymaidens or pincushion
IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Chaenactis alpina (A. Gray) M. E. Jones Chaenactis alpina var. leucopsis (Greene) Stockwell Chaenactis alpina var. rubella (Greene) Stockwell Chaenactis panamintensis
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 21. Treatment on page 407. Mentioned on page 405.

Perennials, mostly (2–) 5–10 (–20) cm (cespitose to ± matted). Stems (1–) 10–25+. Leaves strictly basal, to (1–) 2–6 cm, indument persistent or glabrate. Heads 1 (–2) per stem. Phyllaries: longest 9–12 mm; outer ± stipitate-glandular (rarely eglandular) and, often, arachnoid to lanuginose. 2n = 12.


Phenology: Flowering Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Rocky or gravelly alpine ridges, talus, fell-fields, rock crevices
Elevation: 2700–4000 m

Distribution

V21-1021-distribution-map.gif

Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Utah, Wyo.

Discussion

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).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"longest" is not a number.

not tailed +, rounded +  and obtuse +
connate +  and distinct +
subequal +
scarious +
usually ovate +  and lanceolate +
usually deltate +  and lanceolate +
paniculiform +, cymiform +  and corymbiform +
indeterminate +  and determinate +
James D. Morefield +
A. Gray in A. Gray et al. +
decurrent +
Hymenopappus douglasii +
compound +  and simple +
lobed;ovate;oblanceolate;ovate;oblanceolate;linear;deltate +
winged;ribbed;winged;ribbed +
tuberculate +  and rugose +
barbellulate +  and barbellate +
connate +  and distinct +
Alpine dustymaidens or pincushion +
actinomorphic +
white +  and pinkish or cream +
stipitate-glandular +  and hairy +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
fertile +  and bisexual +
fertile +  and bisexual +
Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Oreg. +, Utah +  and Wyo. +
2700–4000 m +
strigose +  and densely sericeous +
scabrellous +
pistillate +, staminate +  and neuter +
winged +  and beaked +
dispersed +
campanulate +  and cylindric +
Rocky or gravelly alpine ridges, talus, fell-fields, rock crevices +
in more or less cymiform arrays +, singly +  and radiant +
indeterminate +
homogamous +  and heterogamous +
each +  and sessile +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
obconic;more or less hemispheric +
lobed +, less elliptic or slightly lanceolate +  and ovate +
12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br /> (15 cm150 mm <br />0.15 m <br />) +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (?) +  and 12 cm120 mm <br />0.12 m <br /> (?) +
deltate +  and more or less lanceolate +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
dentate to pinnatifid or palmatifid +  and entire +
arachnoid +  and lanuginose +
2-carpellate +
persistent +
coroniform +
mostly ascending +  and erect +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
Flowering Jul–Sep. +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (1.7 cm17 mm <br />0.017 m <br />) +
5 +  and 21 +
0.9 cm9 mm <br />0.009 m <br /> (1.2 cm12 mm <br />0.012 m <br />) +
mostly arachnoid-sericeous +  and thinly lanuginose +
in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. +
bearing subulate enations +, hairy +  and bristly +
knobby;convex;more or less flat +
distinct +
10 +  and 20 +
exalbuminous +
unequal +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
1 (?) +  and 10 (?) +
erect +  and spreading +
10 +  and 25 +
appendaged +  and truncate +
hirsutulous +  and glabrous +
papillate +
Chaenactis alpina +, Chaenactis alpina var. leucopsis +, Chaenactis alpina var. rubella +  and Chaenactis panamintensis +
Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina +
Chaenactis douglasii +
variety +
cylindric +
80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br /> (300 cm3,000 mm <br />3 m <br />) +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br />) +
toothed +  and entire +
10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> (20 cm200 mm <br />0.2 m <br />) +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
80 cm800 mm <br />0.8 m <br /> (300 cm3,000 mm <br />3 m <br />) +