Plants (5-)10-30(-60) cm. Leaves basal (often withering) and, usually, cauline, 1-6(-10) cm; largest blades ± 3-dimensional, not to somewhat succulent; primary lobes mostly 2-7(-10) pairs, ultimate lobes ± crowded to remote, antrorse, linear, terete. Peduncles 2-6 cm. Involucres obconic to ± cylindric or hemispheric, mostly 5-10 mm diam. Phyllaries: longest 7-10 mm, ± granular-glandular and villous; apices (all or inner) erect to incurved, usually reddish, acuminate, aristate, terete. Receptacles: paleae (0-)3-10+ (persistent, ± phyllary-like, apices visible among mature floret buds). Corollas 4-6 mm. Cypselae ± terete, 3-4.5 mm; pappi usually of 4(-5) scales, longest 3-5 mm.

Though occasionally suspected (P. Stockwell 1940), there are no confirmed natural or artificial hybrids between Chaenactis carphoclinia and any other member of the genus. The presence of paleae on the receptacle of C. carphoclinia is unique in Chaenactis.

Duration: Annual

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Low annual herbs to 30 or more cm tall.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, basal and cauline, somewhat succulent, bipinnatifid, the lobes linear, ascending, cylindrical.

Flowers: Heads discoid, disks flesh colored or white, corollas 4-6 mm, involucres obconic to hemispheric, 5-10 mm wide, receptacles of phyllary-like palea, phyllaries granular-glandular and villous, the longest 7-10 mm, the apices abruptly recurved or spreading above the base, with long, cobwebby hairs.

Fruits: Achenes terete, 3-4.5 mm. Pappus of hyaline palea, these without a midrib.

Ecology: Found on open rock or gravel from 0-3,000 ft (0-914 m); flowering February-May.

Distribution: Arizona, California, and Utah; Mexico.

Ethnobotany: Unknown

Etymology: Chaenactis is from the Greek chaino, to gape and aktis, ray, referring to the enlarged corollas, while carphoclinia is from the Greek karphos for small dry object and kline, bed.

Synonyms: None

Editor: LCrumbacher 2011