Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate Flower)

Native to the western and central United States and northern and western Mexico, this herbaceous perennial forms low mounds about 1 to 2 feet tall. It grows in dry grasslands, rocky limestone areas, and open disturbed habitats. Its yellow flower heads smell of chocolate, open in the morning, and begin to droop in the heat of the day. The green centers remain after the rays fall, giving it the name greeneyes. It flowers from spring through fall and can bloom year-round in warm conditions. The flowers can be used as a seasoning. Photographed in Virginia.