notes Detail of Cordylanthus palmatus. Note the white flower tip peaking out at right-center and these characters mentioned in the PDF linked to below:
''The leaves of C. palmatus are grey-green and are often suffused with purple anthocyanin'', and
''Individual plants are often covered by a saline solution or dry salt crystals.''
For more info on this interesting plant, download the PDF of 'Studies of Cordylanthus palmatus at the Springtown Alkali Sink' from the CA Dept of Fish and Game web site, or browse the Cal State Stanislaus web pages here or here.
Thanks to Chris Thayer for getting me out to see this beauty.