Indian blanket flower
Also known as: rose-ring gaillardia, showy gaillardia
Gaillardia pulchella Foug.
Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Erect, simple or freely branched from near base, rough hairy.
- Leaves
- Alternate, simple, sessile, often clasping, lanceolate or oblong in outline, to 3 inches long and 1 1/4 inches wide, coarsely hairy; margins entire, weakly toothed, or wavy-cleft.
- Inflorescence
- Heads, 1 to few, 1-3 inches wide, long-stalked, terminal.
- Flower
- Bracts lanceolate, green; ray florets 10-20, red or purplish at bases, yellow near 3-lobed tips, 1/2 to 1 inch long, to 1/4 inch wide; disk florets reddish brown, interspersed with numerous stiff bristles.
- Fruit
- Achenes, short, hairy, tipped with 6-10 long-pointed, awned scales, enclosing small seed.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Dry, open waste ground, disturbed sites, fields, and roadsides, most abundant on sandy soils.
- Distribution
- West 3/4 of Kansas.
Practical Information
- Uses
- The Kiowa Indians believed the flowers brought good luck.
Additional Notes
Comments
Indian blanket flower is the state wildflower of Oklahoma.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
- Life Span
- Annual
- Height
- 4-24 inches
- Last Updated
- 2007-07-31
Color Groups
Pink, Red & Orange Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: May, June, July, August, September