Grindelia squarrosa
Grindelia squarrosa, also known as a curly-top gumweed or curlycup gumweed, is a small North American biennial or short-lived perennial plant. Description G. squarrosa is a decumbent to erect, much-branched perennial herb or subshrub growing up to tall. The leaves are long, gray-green, crenate with each tooth having a yellow bump near its tip, and resinous. The plant produces numerous flower heads in open, branching arrays. Each head usually contains 12–40 yellow ray flowers, though sometimes the rays are absent. These surround many small disc flowers. The plant blooms from July through late September. The brown seed is usually four-angled, with loose scales. Varieties Grindelia squarrosa var. quasiperennis Grindelia squarrosa var. serrulata Grindelia squarrosa var. squarrosa Distribution and habitat The species is native to western and central North America, from British Columbia east to Québec and New England, and south as far as California, New Mexico, Arizona, Chihuahua, and Texas. The species may possibly be naturalized in much of the eastern part of that distribution. It is often found in dry, open areas and disturbed roadsides and streamsides, occurring between and in elevation. Ecology The species is listed by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network as