About Chaenactis artemisiifolia (Harv. & A.Gray) A.Gray
Chaenactis artemisiifolia is a robust annual herb that grows an erect stem. This stem occasionally reaches 2 meters (6 feet) tall, but most individuals are shorter than 1 meter (3 feet). The plant produces a basal rosette of leaves, with additional sparse leaves growing along its stem. Individual leaves can reach about 15 centimeters (6 inches) or more in length, and are divided into many lobes that are further subdivided into smaller, lacy lobes. Both the leaves and stem are covered in a light woolly layer of hair; older plants develop thinner hair coats. The stem branches around its midpoint, and holds several flower heads in a wide, open inflorescence. Each flower head forms a hairy, hemispheric cup made of sharp-tipped phyllaries, which can grow up to 1 centimeter long. The flower heads are discoid, containing only disc florets, though some of these disc florets are flat enough to resemble ray florets or petals. Florets range in color from white to pink. Anthers and curly styles protrude far out from each floret, giving the entire flower head a pincushion-like appearance. The plant produces a fruit that is a compressed achene, measuring about half a centimeter long, with no pappus.
