Zinnia grandiflora

Zinnia grandiflora is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names Rocky Mountains zinnia and plains zinnia. It is native to the southwestern and south-central United States (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona) and northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Zacatecas). Zinnia grandiflora is a small flat-topped or rounded subshrub growing up to 22 centimeters (8.8 inches) tall with many slender, branching stems. The oppositely arranged leaves are linear and 1 to 3 centimeters (0.4–1.2 inches) long. The herbage is covered in short, rough hairs. The flower head has 3 to 6 bright yellow ray florets each between 1 and 2 centimeters (0.4–0.8 inches) in length. At the center is a cluster of several tubular disc florets. It grows on plains and foothills and other dry habitat. This plant is used by several Native American groups, including the Zuni and Navajo, for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. Among the Zuni people, this plant is applied in a poultice to bruises, cold infusion of blossoms used as an eyewash, and smoke from powdered plant inhaled in sweatbath for fever.