Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Synonyms
Grindelia nuda var. aphanactis
Other common names
rayless gumweed
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Biennial or annual
Height
To 16 inches
Riparian
No
Sticky-gummy; herbage oozing white goo. Recognizable by its absence of ray flowers. Often branched in upper part of stems.
Taprooted, somewhat woody at the base. Leaves basal and alternate, ovoid, toothed. Leaves are sticky, glandular. Disc flowers only, >100, yellow to orange, bisexual and fertile. Sepals are persistent and bristly. Achenes are cube-like.
Habitat
Grasslands, interior chaparral, woodlands of oak/pinyon pine/juniper, montane; dry open areas, overgrazed land.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
3200
High elevation
7100
Flower Characteristics
Yellow disc flowers, rayless. Flower heads subtended by rounded, linear, semi-hooked, sticky bracts in 5 to 6 series that are up to 1-1/4 inches wide.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Variable shaped leaves, from oval to spoon-shaped, 1 to 3 inches long, with course-toothed edges. Middle and top leaves alternately clasp the multi-branched reddish stem. Basal leaves are usually stemmed.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Achenes are compressed to sub quadrangular; scarcely nerved and are awned.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
Brown