[Members of the Sunflower Family with
Button-like Flower Heads Found East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]
Columbia Gumplant, Columbia Gumweed, Columbia River Gumweed
Grindelia nana var. discoidea
Synonyms: Grindelia columbiana,
Grindelia columbiana ssp. columbiana, Grindelia hirsutula (in Washington), Grindelia nana ssp. columbiana
The photo above shows Columbia River gumweed as seen from the Columbia Hills to the northeast of The Dalles, OR..........July 7, 2006.
The photo at right shows a close-up of the involucral bracts of Columbia River gumweed as seen in the Columbia Hills..........July 7, 2006. Note how the tips of the involucral bracts narrow abruptly and then are recurved outwards and downwards.
Characteristics:
Columbia river gumweed is a biennial or short-lived perennial
that is fairly easy to identify. Its herbage is wholly smooth or glabrous, and
the plant ranges in height from 15-80 cm. The leaves are oblanceolate in shape,
with entire to serrate margins. If serrate, the margins may be blunt to sharp.
The leaves are as long as 10 cm long and 1.5 cm wide.
The flower heads are discoid and fairly wide (1-2 cm in diameter).
The involucre is fairly resinous with the tips of the outer bracts coiled or
reflexed outward.
Habitat:
Columbia river gumweed is found in gravelly and sandy habitats
alongside streams and rivers.
Range:
Columbia river gumweed is found from northern Idaho, and down
the Columbia River through much of central Washington to Portland, OR. It is
also found near Blackfoot, Idaho.
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Several examples of Columbia River gumweed as seen near the low crest of Island 19 along the Columbia River to the north of Richland, Washington...........October 2, 2012.
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Columbia River gumweed blooming in wetlands at the west end base of Dry Falls Dam to the west of Coulee City, Washington........June 2, 2013.
The photo above shows a long, oblanceolate-shaped basal leaf of Columbia River gumweed.......................July 7, 2006.
The photo above shows a close-up of a stem leaf of Columbia River gumweed. Photographed in the Columbia Hills of Klickitat County, Washington...........July 7, 2006.
Paul Slichter