Gaillardia aestivalis
Gaillardia aestivalis is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names lanceleaf blanketflower, prairie gaillardia, and sandhills gaillardia. It is native to the south-central and southern United States from Texas east to Florida and north to the Carolinas, Arkansas, and Kansas. There are also reports of historical populations in Missouri and introduced populations in Nebraska. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant.
Gaillardia aestivalis is a perennial herb, sometimes growing from a rhizome, reaching maximum heights around 60 centimeters or more. The leaves are borne alternately along the stem. They are variable in shape and up to 6 centimeters long. The ones toward the top may clasp the stem at their bases. The flower heads are lined with several phyllaries. There are usually 6 to 12 ray florets, sometimes up to 15, but sometimes none. These are variable in color, being purplish, yellowish, or whitish. There are many disc florets at the center, also variable in color, especially across the varieties. The fruit is an achene which may be up to a centimeter long, including its pappus of scales.
There are three varieties of this plant. The rare var. winkleri is endemic to the Pineywoods of Texas.