Wildflowers of the United States

Dusty Maidens, Douglas' Dustymaiden, Chaenactis, Douglas False Yarrow - Chaenactis douglasii

Genus Common Name: Pincushion

Native Status: Native

Chaenactis douglasii - Dusty Maidens, Douglas' Dustymaiden, Chaenactis, Douglas False Yarrow. This is a member of the Asteraceae family which has no ray flowers, growing in the western part of the United States and Canada.

Medicinal: According to the Malheur Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon State University: "Infusion of the plant is used as a wash for chapped hands, insect bites, boils, tumors, and swellings by the Okanagon, and Thompson. A strong decoction of the plants were applied to snakebites by the Thompson, Okanagon, and Paiute"

Found in:
AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, ND, NM, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY

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Distribution of Chaenactis douglasii in the United States and Canada:

Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
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Site: Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, Ada County, ID Date: 2011-June-15	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The white to pink blossoms of Dusty Maidens are rayless with protruding, forked styles which help identify this as a member of Asteraceae.

Site: Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, Ada County, ID Date: 2011-June-15	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
Dusty Maidens may be up to 24" tall, with a branching inflorescence. The peduncle (flower stem) and involucre are quite hairy, but the hairs may be pressed against the stem. The hairs also thin out with age.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Site: Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, Ada County, ID Date: 2011-June-15	Photographer: Gerald C Williamson Nikon D7000 Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The leaves are bipinnately lobes, appearing quite intricately cut. The leaves, along with the rest of the plant, are quite hairy, although this thins out with age (apparently not just a human trait.)
Click on the photo for a larger image

References used for identification and information:

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Chaenactis douglasii initially published on USWildflowers.com 2011-07-09; Updated 2017-03-02

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer

Code Update 20230302