Gaillardia aestivalis (Walter) H. Rock

Prairie Gaillardia

Gaillardia_aestivalis_plant.jpg
STATS

Native
CC = 10
CW = 5
MOC = 3

© DETenaglia

Family - Asteraceae/Heliantheae

Stems - No info yet.

Gaillardia_aestivalis_stem.jpg

© DETenaglia

Leaves - No info yet.

Gaillardia_aestivalis_leaves.jpg

© DETenaglia

Inflorescence - No info yet.

Involucre - No info yet.

Gaillardia_aestivalis_involucre.jpg

© DETenaglia

Ray flowers - No info yet.

Disk flowers - No info yet.

Gaillardia_aestivalis_flowers2.jpg Immature flower head.

© DETenaglia

Gaillardia_aestivalis_flowers.jpg Mature flower head.

© DETenaglia

Gaillardia_aestivalis_flowers3.jpg Flower head with rays.

© DETenaglia

Gaillardia_aestivalis_fruits.jpg Fruits.

© DETenaglia

Flowering - July - November.

Habitat - Sandy open ground, sandy soils.

Origin - Native to U.S.

Other info. - This species was only recently discovered in Missouri and has been reported in just two counties of the bootheel. The plant can be identified by its pubescent stems, thin, alternate leaves, and maroon, globose disks of flowers. The long-awned scales of the pappus are another good character for identification. Ray flowers are typically absent in this species but are sometimes present. When the flowers are present the ligules are broadly three-lobed at the apex and yellow (sometimes with some red). The plant is much more common in states to the south and east.

Photographs taken off Lee Rd 10, Lee County, AL., 8-25-04, and at Fort Benning, GA., 8-11-05.