Mojave Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia, Asteraceae)

Here are the beautiful new flowers of native Mojave Aster (Xylorhiza tortifolia var. tortifolia) in the Asteraceae plant family. If you look close, you can see little caterpillars (?) inside the flower on the right. I'm always surprised to find these flowers in the desert - especially in a drought year like this when little else is flowering. (Alabama Hills, Owens Valley, Inyo County, California, 11 May 2018)

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