[Dustymaidens: The Genus Chaenactis East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]
John Day Chaenactis, John Day's Pincushion, Nevius's Chaenactis
Chaenactis nevii
John Day chaenactis as seen about one mile west of Clarno, OR along OR Highway 219...........April 19, 2007.
John Day chaenactis at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Painted
Hills Unit.......May 24, 1998.
Characteristics:
John Day chaenactis is an annual with one to several lax to erect stems arising
from a leafy base. Plants measure up to 30 cm tall. The leaves in flowering plants
are usually found both on the stems as well as basally. Individual leaves are
several times pinnately compound, and the basal leaves are larger than the stem
leaves.
The plant has several to many clusters of golden-yellowish disk flowers
which look like pincushions.
Habitat:
Dry, barren soils, often heavy with clay or ash.
Range:
The range of John Day chaenactis is north central Oregon, especially in the
John Day Valley and its vicinity.
Basal leaves of John Day chaenactis at the John Day Fossil Beds National
Monument, Painted Hills Unit..........May 24, 1998.
The photo above shows a close-up of the involucral bracts of John Day chaenactis as seen about one mile west of Clarno, OR...........April 19, 2007.
John Day chaenactis as seen about one mile west of Clarno, OR..........April 19, 2007.
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John Day chaenactis as seen on road cuts along Oregon 218 about 2 miles west of Clarno, OR...........May 16, 2010.
Paul Slichter