Evermann’s pincushion

Chaenactis nevadensis (Kellogg) A. Gray var. mainsiana (A. Nelson & J. F. Macbride) Stockwell

Perennials, mostly 6–12 cm (cespitose or ± matted); proximal indument thinning with age, grayish, mostly arachnoid-sericeous to thinly lanuginose. Stems mostly 5–20+, ascending to erect. Leaves basal, 1–5 cm; largest blades broadly ± elliptic, ± plane, 1-pinnately lobed; lobes 2–5 pairs, remote, ± plane. Heads 1(–3) per stem. Peduncles mostly ascending to erect, 5–10 cm. Involucres ± obconic. Phyllaries: longest 8–12 mm; outer predominantly closely lanuginose, sparsely, if at all, stipitate-glandular, apices erect, ± rigid. Corollas 5–6.5 mm. Cypselae 5–6.5 mm (eglandular); pappi: longest scales 2.5–4.5 mm (lengths 0.4–0.8 times corollas). 2n = 12.

Flowering Jun–Aug. Subalpine, usually decomposing granitic sand or gravel slopes, ridges, scree, talus, openings in or above conifer forests; 1200–3000 m; Idaho.

Chaenactis evermannii is known from mountains of central Idaho. Reports of it from Washington and California/Nevada (P. Stockwell 1940, some as C. nevadensis var. mainsiana) were based on specimens of C. thompsonii and C. alpigena, respectively; all three species are closely related.