Grindelia squarrosa (Gumweed) - photos and description
15 cm ruler for scale
Lower stem leaf in above photo.
Upper leaf in above photo.
General: Plants erect, often many-branched. The bracts of the flower heads are very sticky - giving rise to its common name - Gumweed. Stems and leaves glabrous.
Flowers: Flowers numerous in flat topped clusters, yellow, measured to 3 cm diameter. Involucre bracts imbricate in several series, very sticky. Flowers late July through September.
Leaves: Leaves are alternate, sparsely toothed, upper leaves sessile and clasping, oblong, measured at 3 cm long, and 1 cm wide. Lower leaves petiolate, spatulate, measured at 7 cm long, 1 cm wide.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 60 cm, I measured plants to 53 cm tall.
Habitat: Dry grassland and prairie roadsides.
Abundance: Very common.
Origin: Native.
When and where photographed: The above photos were taken August 26th roadside in the Qu'Appelle Valley, 30 km north of Regina, SK, and September 2nd in a highway ditch, about 100 km north of our home in Regina, SK.