Plants (5-)10-30(-60) cm. Leaves basal (often withering) and, usually, cauline, 1-6(-10) cm; largest blades ± 3-dimensional, not to somewhat succulent; primary lobes mostly 2-7(-10) pairs, ultimate lobes ± crowded to remote, antrorse, linear, terete. Peduncles 2-6 cm. Involucres obconic to ± cylindric or hemispheric, mostly 5-10 mm diam. Phyllaries: longest 7-10 mm, ± granular-glandular and villous; apices (all or inner) erect to incurved, usually reddish, acuminate, aristate, terete. Receptacles: paleae (0-)3-10+ (persistent, ± phyllary-like, apices visible among mature floret buds). Corollas 4-6 mm. Cypselae ± terete, 3-4.5 mm; pappi usually of 4(-5) scales, longest 3-5 mm. Though occasionally suspected (P. Stockwell 1940), there are no confirmed natural or artificial hybrids between Chaenactis carphoclinia and any other member of the genus. The presence of paleae on the receptacle of C. carphoclinia is unique in Chaenactis.

Plant: Annual, branched above middle; stem generally 1, ± erect, < 7 dm, whitish granular-puberulent below and generally on leaves; hairs thinning with age Leaves: < 11 cm, generally not fleshy; basal rosette withering; largest blades (2)3-4-pinnately lobed, primary lobes 2-7(10) pairs, ± crowded, longest near base, tips ± cylindric INFLORESCENCE: primary inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower; heads generally several per stem; peduncles < 7 cm; involucre cylindric to hemispheric, glandular- or wavy-hairy; longest phyllaries 7-10 mm, tips (at least of inner) erect, rigid, acuminate, needle-like, cylindric, generally reddish; receptacle generally ± chaffy, chaff resembling phyllaries Flowers: 10-many; corollas radial, 4-6 mm, white to pinkish, outer spreading but barely enlarged Fruit: 3-4 mm, club-shaped; stiffly hairy; pappus scales in 1 series, scales of outer fruit (0-)4, unequal, < inner, scales of inner fruit 4, equal, longest 3-5 mm Misc: Generally open rocks or gravel; < 1900 m.; Spring. Notes: differentiated from C. steviodes by long-acuminate phyllaries and scurfy stem References: Arizona Flora, Jepson Manual, ASU specimens