Gaillardia aristata (Mexican Blanket)

Order Asterales, Family Astercaeae, Genus Gaillardia

This brightly colored composite is easily identified. It responds to wind as though it were doing some wild intoxicated dance.

 

 

A moth (Schinia masoni) disguises itself cleverly to blend with the flower

 

This flower shows easily how each "petal" is actually a single blossom. The disk is composed of many tiny individual flowers.