Gaillardia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gaillardia
Common Gaillardia (Gaillardia aristata)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Gaillardia

Gaillardia (Blanket flower) is a genus of drought-tolerant annual and perennial plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae), native to North America. It was named after M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, an 18th-century French magistrate who was a patron of botany. The common name refers to the inflorescence's resemblance to brightly patterned blankets made by native Americans.

Description

These are annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs, sometimes with rhizomes. The stem is usually branching and erect to a maximum height around 80 centimeters. The leaves are alternately arranged. Some taxa have only basal leaves. They vary in shape. They are glandular in most species. The inflorescence is a solitary flower head. The head can have 15 or more ray florets, while some taxa lack any ray florets. They can be almost any shade of yellow, orange, red, purplish, brown, white, or bicolored. They are sometimes rolled into a funnel shape. There are many tubular disc florets at the center of the head in a similar range of colors, and usually tipped with hairs. The fruit usually has a pappus of scales.

Symbolism

The school colors of Texas State University are maroon and old gold, a combination inspired by the gaillardia.

Images for kids

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  red dome blanketflower (Gaillardia pinnatifida)

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  Gaillardia 'Fanfare'

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  lanceleaf blanketflower (Gaillardia aestivalis)

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  firewheel (Gaillardia pulchella)

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  Gaillardia × hybrida 'Kobold'

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  Gaillardia × grandiflora 'Oranges and Lemons'

See also

In Spanish: Gaillardia para niños