From a distance the flower head on wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) looks like a pin cushion or a sea urchin dog-ball.
Close up you can see that each “spike” is a small flower with a pistil that splits in two curls at the top.
How fancy!
(photos by Kate St. John)
Great photos! I never noticed the split pistils before! I’ll have to look for them on my next walk.
I believe the split pistils indicate that those are actually other individual
flowers, if you look inside them you can see stamens/pistils etc.
Interesting thought, Larry. I’ll have to look with a magnifying glass when they bloom this year.