curly-cup gumweed

(Grindelia squarrosa)

Overview
curly-cup gumweed
 
 

Curly-cup gumweed is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to western North America, from British Columbia to California and eastward to Montana and New Mexico. It is found in open areas, including meadows, prairies, roadsides and sometimes in disturbed areas, including abandoned fields, clearcuts, and burned areas. It grows under full sun or partial shade in well-drained sandy, rocky, and clay soils.

 
 

Curly-cup gumweed contains terpenes and flavonoids, which are believed to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It has been used by Native American tribes as a natural remedy for respiratory infections, skin irritations, and headaches. It is also used in modern herbal medicine in teas, tinctures, and capsules, to treat coughs, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions.

 
     
 
Description
 
 

Grindelia squarrosa is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows to a height of 30 to 90 cm. The plant has a woody stem at its base and is often branched above. The leaves are narrow and alternate, with toothed margins, and are covered with a sticky resin. They are up to 10 cm long and 1 cm wide.

The flower heads of Grindelia squarrosa are yellow and daisy-like, and they are surrounded by numerous narrow, pointed bracts that are arranged in several overlapping layers. The flower heads are 2 to 5 cm in diameter and contain both ray and disc flowers. The ray flowers are yellow and strap-shaped, while the disc flowers are yellow and tubular.

The fruit of Grindelia squarrosa is an achene, which is a dry, one-seeded fruit that does not open at maturity. The achenes are about 3 mm long, flattened, and have a tuft of white hairs at the tip that aid in wind dispersal.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 28, 29, 30.

 
  4/3/2023      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants) / Angiospermae (flowering plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Asteranae  
 

Order

Asterales (sunflowers, bellflowers, fanflowers, and allies)  
 

Family

Asteraceae (sunflowers, daisies, asters, and allies)  
  Subfamily Asteroideae  
  Supertribe Asterodae  
  Tribe Astereae (asters and allies)  
  Subtribe Machaerantherinae  
  Genus Grindelia (gumplants)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

prairie gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa var. serrulata)

broadleaf gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa var. squarrosa)

curly-cup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa var. quasiperennis)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Aurelia amplexicaulis

Aurelia squarrosa

Donia squarrosa

Grindelia aphanactis

Grindelia arguta

Grindelia nuda

Grindelia pinnatifida

Grindelia serrulata

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

curly-cup gumweed

curlycup gumweed

curlytop gumweed

gum-plant

gumweed

rosinweed

tarweed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
           
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Plant

 
    curly-cup gumweed   curly-cup gumweed  
           
    curly-cup gumweed      
           
 

Inflorescence

 
    curly-cup gumweed      
           
 

Flower Head

 
    curly-cup gumweed   curly-cup gumweed  
           
    curly-cup gumweed      
           
 

Leaves

 
    curly-cup gumweed      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Gumweed / Grindelia squarrosa
momentaryvitality
 
   
 
About

Published on Jan 13, 2013

No description available.

   
  Gumweed
james57701
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Sep 10, 2011

Had nothing better to post.

   

 

Camcorder

 

Created:

Last Updated:

© MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.

About Us

Privacy Policy

Contact Us