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.

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.

Sources

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

Plant

Inflorescence

Flower Head

Leaves