This is a fairly rare taxon, with small populations struggling to survive in coastal San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties amid growing development. The flower looks much like the widespread var. glabriuscula, but the leaves are very distinct, fleshy and 2-pinnately lobed. The stems are branched and thinly grayish-
cobwebby. There are few heads per stem on short peduncles, and each has four pappus scales in a single series. It inhabits coastal dunes and bluffs, and blooms from March to July. These pictures were taken near Ballona Creek in Marina del Rey.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Chaenactis 2) glabriuscula 3) orcuttiana.
Pronunciation: kee-NAK-tis glay-bree-YOO-skew-la or-kut-ee-AY-na.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.