Indian Blanket, Gaillardia pulchella, sometimes called firewheel is an unmistakable member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Its reddish brown disk flowers are surrounded by the striking ray flower petals of deep red, tipped with yellow. No other wildflowers in Texas look like these.

Occasionally, you will see differences in depth, or vibrancy of color, and distribution of color due to growing conditions or inherited variations.

This example of an atypical Indian Blanket has mainly red petals and only a few, vaguely yellow-tipped petals.

This example of Indian Blanket has yellow tips on its petals that are almost half the length of the petals.

Indian Blankets can be found in sandy or clay soils in grasslands or open woodlands throughout most of Texas. Their colorful blooms grace the countryside from February through December.

The post Indian Blanket Wildflowers Are Attention Grabbers appeared first on GJM Nature Media.

The plant pictured above is a member of the Trumpet-Creeper Vine family, Bignoniaceae, known as Campsis radicans or the Common Trumpet Creeper vine.

This species favors stream or river environments where the soil is moist. It will creep along the ground or it will produce aerial roots which attach to trees or other objects in order to climb into ample sunlight. The leaves are odd, pinnately compound and can have between 7-13 leaflets. The compound leaves are arranged opposite one another along the stem or vine. The leaflets are oval to elliptical in shape and come to a point at their tip while their margins are coarsely serrate (toothed like a saw). While many of the Bignoneaceae have hairy surfaces to their leaves and stems, Campsis radicans does not. This plant is generally olive colored but its stems can attain a reddish tint.

The most striking feature of this plant are the huge, red, trumpet shaped flowers which appear all summer long. The Common Trumpet Creeper vine is a native in the Gulf states and along the east coast of the US. Its ruby red flowers and its nectar attract hummingbirds.

The post The Trumpet Creeper Vine Makes Huge, Red, Trumpet-Shaped Flowers appeared first on GJM Nature Media.

Crimson Clover, Trifolium incarnatum is a legume, family Fabaceae, that is a native of Europe which has been planted along Texas roadsides for its beauty and the nitrogen compounds produced by bacteria in nodules on its roots. This is an inexpensive way to naturally fertilize the grasses surrounding these plants and keep our roadsides stable as well as beautiful. The red plumes in a sea of green grass makes a striking contrast even at highway speeds.

The post Crimson Clover- Blood Red Plumes Along the Highways appeared first on GJM Nature Media.

This is an example of Papaver rhoeas, the corn poppy. This is an introduced plant in the US and Canada. This member of the Papaveraceae (poppy) family has become a crop pest in some situations. It resembles the native Texas Prickly Poppy, Argemone aurantiaca in terms of its stems and leaves but the white flower with the yellow center makes the distinction simple.

This specimen is boldly red with darker central spots on the petals. Not all corn poppies possess the darker center and instead may be uniform in petal color. Found this specimen in west Texas near the Caprock Canyons State Park.

The post Corn Poppy, Papaver rhoeus, an Introduced Beauty That Can Become a Pest appeared first on GJM Nature Media.