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. camporum Greene

Perennial 6–25 dm, ± erect, ± glabrous
Stems appearing white-varnished
Leaves: cauline 2–3 cm, lanceolate to ovate, entire to serrate, stiff, light yellow- to gray-green
Inflorescence: head 1; involucre 17–25 mm diam, hemispheric; phyllaries 6–7 series, acuminate, strongly reflexed to coiled 360°, glabrous
Ray flowers (0)25–39; ligules 8–11 mm
Disk flowers many; corolla throat ± narrow
Fruit 2–5 mm, generally 2–3-angled, white to golden-brown; tops generally flanged; pappus awns 2–6
Chromosomes: 2n=24
Ecology: Sandy or saline bottomlands, fields, roadsides
Elevation: < 1400 m.
Bioregional distribution: Inner North Coast Ranges, Great Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Outer South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: Baja California

Native

var. camporum

Plant < 25 dm, much-branched from base
Inflorescence: head generally not subtended by bracts
Ray flowers generally 32–39
Ecology: Habitats of sp.
Bioregional distribution: Inner North Coast Ranges, Great Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, Outer South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California
Synonyms: var. parviflora Steyerm., Great Valley gumplant; G. procera Greene; G. robusta Nutt. var. r. in part
Hybrids: G. X paludosa Greene (X G. stricta var. angustifolia ); G. X latifolia Kellogg in part & G. X robusta in part (X G. stricta var. platyphylla ).
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.