Chaenactis xantiana (Mojave pincushion or Xantu's pincushion), is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the western United States, from southeastern Oregon, Nevada, eastern California and western Arizona. It is very common in the Antelope Valley in the Mojave Desert, and grows in sandy soils.

It is an annual plant growing to 50 cm tall. The leaves are somewhat succulent, 3-7 cm long and 3-4 mm broad, in a basal rosette on the young plants which wither away during flowering, and spirally arranged leaves on the flowering stem; they are green, finely flecked with white scales giving an overall grayish color to the plant. The flowers are produced in a capitulum 3-6 cm diameter, and are white in color.

It is similar to Chaenactis stevioides (Esteve pincushion).

References

• Jepson Flora Project: Chaenactis xantiana
• Photo of Chaenactis xantiana
• Mojave Desert Wildflowers, Jon Mark Stewart, 1998, pg. 45