ASTERACEAE

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

David J. Keil, Family Editor and author, except as specified

Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.

GRINDELIA

GUMPLANT

Meredith A. Lane

Biennial to subshrub from taproot or woody caudex, glabrous to tomentose or glandular-sticky
Leaves entire to pinnately lobed, generally clasping, gland-dotted
Inflorescence: heads generally radiate, 1–many; involucres obconic to hemispheric, generally gummy; phyllaries in 4–10 series, bases generally tough, tips green; receptacle flat to convex, naked, ± pitted
Ray flowers 0–many; ligules yellow
Disk flowers: corollas yellow; style appendages linear to lanceolate, generally = or > stigmatic portion
Fruit cylindric or swollen-obconic, shiny white to ± brown, glabrous, smooth to ridged; pappus of 1–6 awns ± < disk corollas, generally < 0.2 mm wide, generally U-shaped in X -section, generally entire, deciduous
Species in genus: ± 80 species: c&w North America, South America
Etymology: (D.H. Grindel, 1776–1836, Latvian botanist)
Hybrids common.

Native

G. stricta DC.

Perennial or subshrub 2–15 dm, prostrate to erect, green to deep purplish red, glabrous to tomentose
Leaf 1–15 cm, oblong to lanceolate, ± fleshy, green or red-veined
Inflorescence: heads 1–many, generally not subtended by bracts; involucres 10–55 mm diam, hemispheric; phyllaries 4–6 series, spreading to slightly recurved
Ray flowers generally 20–60; ligules 12–25 mm
Disk flowers many; corolla throat abruptly wider than tube
Fruit 3.5–7 mm, whitish or gray- to red-brown, ridged, top knobby; pappus awns 2–6, becoming reflexed to coiled, > 0.3 mm wide, V-shaped in X -section, minutely serrate
Ecology: Tidal flats, marshes, dunes, seabluffs
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Channel Islands
Distribution outside California: to Alaska
Varieties intergrade.

Native

var. platyphylla (Greene) M.A. Lane

Perennial 1–2 dm, ± prostrate, glabrous to sparsely tomentose
Leaves: cauline generally widest at truncate to rounded tips
Inflorescence: head subtended by bracts or not
Ray flowers generally 20–60; ligules 12–20 mm
Fruit 3.5–5 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=12,24
Ecology: Windswept coastal bluffs, dunes
Elevation: < 200 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Channel Islands
Synonyms: subsp. venulosa (Jeps.) D.D. Keck
Hybrids: G. X latifolia Kellogg in part & G. X robusta Nutt. in part (X G. hirsutula ); G. X robusta in part (X G. camporum ).
Horticultural information: DRN: 5, 17 &IRR: 15, 16, 24 &SHD: 7, 8, 9, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23; GRCVR.