theorizing

i can’t quite tell what’s going on here. this flower is not wet or matted. and it was standing next to healthy round salsify seed globes. my theories are that it is on the way toward opening fully and i caught it early. that it is a strange mutation that occurred naturally. or that it is a strange mutation caused by chemical treatment of the vegetaion in that area. any alternate theories accepted gladly.

goatsbeard (salsify)  flower