A warty Mexican hat
Occasionally the central column in a Mexican hat flower head (Ratibida columnifera) gets warty-looking. That was the case with this one I found in Great Hills Park on May 18th. Because the Mexican hat grew near some dead Ashe juniper branches (Juniperus ashei) on the ground, I was able to get their rich harmonizing brown around the flower head, while a broad aperture of f/3.5 kept the background completely free of details.
For something different, check out how photographic illustrator Josh Dykgraaf combines many small photographs of plants and landscapes to create pictures of animals.
© 2021 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Very special !
picpholio
May 26, 2021 at 5:51 AM
I like your enthusiasm. As many times as I’ve photographed Mexican hats, this was a new way of portraying one.
Steve Schwartzman
May 26, 2021 at 6:35 AM
Alas, poor Warty — I knew him well! Actually, I don’t know this phenomenon, well or otherwise; I’ve never seen a Mexican hat misshapen in this way. It does make a good visual metaphor for a few projects I’ve had turn out that way when I misinterpreted the instructions.
shoreacres
May 26, 2021 at 7:37 AM
You’re funny this morning, both in the Shakespearean reference and your allusion to projects gone awry. I assume you also know that the “well” was never in that line from Hamlet, which is now more often misquoted than quoted well. What causes the occasional wartiness in Mexican hat columns, I don’t know. I’m guessing it’s a virus or fungus.
Steve Schwartzman
May 26, 2021 at 7:44 AM
It’s still quite pretty warts and all. 😀
circadianreflections
May 26, 2021 at 7:57 AM
I agree. Strange things in nature have a special appeal.
Steve Schwartzman
May 26, 2021 at 8:01 AM
I like the graceful shape of the petals with their delicate yellow rim. Is the ‘wart’ a sign of a disease? Just wondering.
Peter Klopp
May 26, 2021 at 8:15 AM
In this species the ray florets vary a lot. Some are all yellow, others all brown, and many have a mixture of the two colors, as here. As for what causes the “warts,” I’m guessing a virus or fungus but I don’t actually know.
Steve Schwartzman
May 26, 2021 at 8:30 AM
Do you know what causes that appearance?
Steve Gingold
May 26, 2021 at 3:45 PM
No. I’m guessing it’s a virus or fungus.
Steve Schwartzman
May 26, 2021 at 3:48 PM
Are the warts a sign of disease, Steve? Will the plant be able to survive and propagate properly despite the warts?
Mr. Dykgraaf’s creations are stunning.
tanjabrittonwriter
May 26, 2021 at 4:36 PM
I’ll bet a local botanist could answer your two questions, but alas, I’m no botanist. I’m glad you like Mr. Dygraaf’s creations.
Steve Schwartzman
May 26, 2021 at 6:57 PM
Let’s hope that floral warts are as harmless as many human warts.
tanjabrittonwriter
May 26, 2021 at 10:37 PM
Harmless we hope, even if not winning any awarts for beauty.
Steve Schwartzman
May 27, 2021 at 6:22 AM
I like it .. warts and all!
Ms. Liz
May 26, 2021 at 9:53 PM
And you’re not the only person who felt that.
Steve Schwartzman
May 26, 2021 at 9:57 PM
Steve, I myself was at the GH Park (higher elevation entrance) and recorded (subsequently uploaded) a swath of Mexican hats from May 23, along with other Mexican hats at the empty parking lot I’ve mentioned to you in the past. Those two colonies reliably pop up every year, and are still going strong. Have also spotted other colonies during walks, occasional clutches at front yards. Seems the February deep freeze didn’t harm their resurgences.
whilldtkwriter
May 27, 2021 at 7:48 AM
My observation matches yours: based on what I’ve seen while driving around Austin, this has been a good spring for Mexican hats. Last year I spent a bunch of time with the colony at the Sierra Nevada entrance and have been thinking about checking it out again soon before the flowers fade. The picture in this post came from inside the park but I spent most of my Mexican hat time that day with the group at the Floral Park entrance.
Steve Schwartzman
May 27, 2021 at 7:59 AM
looks interesting!
Ann Mackay
May 29, 2021 at 2:52 PM
Yes, distinctive. Whether it was healthy is another question.
Steve Schwartzman
May 29, 2021 at 6:52 PM