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. It has a particular moth, Blanket Flower Moth, Schinia masoni, whose colors are effective camouflage. Bees also love these beautiful flowers. For more information, visit these links: Wikipedia and Southwest Colorado Wildflowers.

 

 

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.