About Gaillardia aestivalis (Walter) H.Rock
Gaillardia aestivalis is a species of flowering plant in the aster family, with the common names lanceleaf blanketflower, prairie gaillardia, and sandhills gaillardia. It is native to the south-central and southern United States, ranging from Texas east to Florida and north to the Carolinas, Arkansas, and Kansas. Historical populations that are now extirpated have been reported in Missouri, and introduced populations exist in Nebraska. This species is also cultivated as an ornamental plant. Gaillardia aestivalis is a perennial herb that sometimes grows from a rhizome, reaching a maximum height of around 60 centimeters (2 feet) or more. Leaves grow alternately along the stem; they vary in shape, and can reach up to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) long. Leaves near the top of the stem may clasp the stem at their bases. The species' flower heads are lined with several phyllaries. There are usually 6 to 12 ray florets, though this number can sometimes reach up to 15, or occasionally there are no ray florets at all. Ray florets vary in color, and can be purplish, yellowish, or whitish. Many disc florets grow at the center of the flower head, and also vary in color, particularly across the plant's varieties. The fruit is an achene that can grow up to one centimeter (0.4 inches) long when including its pappus of scales. There are three varieties of this plant. The rare var. winkleri, also called Winkler's blanketflower or white fire-wheel, is endemic to the Pineywoods of Texas.
