Rocky Mountain Zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora

Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA: Plains Zinnia, Prairie Zinnia
Photo taken on: September 28, 2008
Location: Walsenberg, Eastern CO
Life Zones: Plains
Habitat: Dry rocky areas

Grows to 8" in clumps. Found in SE Colorado. Flowers have red disk flowers and buttercup-like petals that turn papery when old. Compare to Paperflowers which have notched petals and a different growth pattern. Flora of North America reference.