Great Valley gumweed
Grindelia camporum
Native Americans used the plant's gummy resin as a natural adhesive, a remedy for poison oak rashes, and even as a herbal chewing gum.
- Scientific name
- Grindelia camporum
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Grindelia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Dry valley grasslands, foothills, roadsides, and disturbed soils.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (requires sunlight, water, and soil nutrients).
- Range
- California, USA, Baja California, Mexico
- Size
- Up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall
- Lifespan
- 3 to 5 years (short-lived perennial)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss from agriculture and urban sprawl, competition with invasive non-native grasses.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. The plant is safe to approach and examine. The milky white resin on the flower heads is extremely sticky but non-toxic; however, individuals sensitive to the Asteraceae family may experience mild skin irritation. Wash hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol to remove the sticky residue if handled.
Grindelia camporum is a species of flowering plant in the daisy family known by the common names Great Valley gumplant and Great Valley gumweed .
Photo: Justin, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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