Hairy gumweed
Grindelia hirsutula
Synonyms: Grindelia cuneifolia var. paludosa, Grindelia arenicola var. pachyphylla, Grindelia collina, Grindelia pacifica, Grindelia hirsutula subsp. rubricaulis, Grindelia robusta var. rigida, Grindelia nana var. paysonorum, Grindelia nana var. discoidea, Grindelia nana var. columbiana, Grindelia hirsutula var. brevisquama, Grindelia latifolia subsp. platyphylla, Grindelia camporum var. australis, Grindelia rubricaulis var. bracteosa, Grindelia procera, Grindelia integrifolia var. macrophylla, Grindelia nana, Grindelia venulosa, Grindelia rubricaulis f. villosa, Grindelia rubricaulis var. robusta, Grindelia humilis f. pubescens, Grindelia hirsutula var. maritima, Grindelia rubricaulis var. latifolia, Grindelia integerrima, Grindelia hirsutula f. glabrata, Grindelia paysonorum, Grindelia nana f. brownii, Grindelia stricta var. collina, Grindelia discoidea, Grindelia robusta, Grindelia rubricaulis, Grindelia arenicola f. trichophora, Grindelia andersonii, Grindelia hirsutula var. subintegra, Grindelia robusta var. maritima, Grindelia stricta var. procumbens, Grindelia camporum var. bracteosa, Grindelia squarrosa var. integrifolia, Grindelia nana var. turbinella, Grindelia lanata, Grindelia hirsutula f. cacumena, Grindelia fastigiata var. revoluta, Grindelia stricta var. aestuarina, Grindelia nana var. integerrima, Grindelia rubricaulis f. pubescens, Grindelia hallii, Grindelia maritima f. anomala, Grindelia robusta var. patens, Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia, Grindelia humilis f. reflexa, Grindelia rubricaulis var. maritima, Grindelia stricta var. hendersonii, Grindelia columbiana, Grindelia humilis, Grindelia robusta var. bracteosa, Grindelia oregana subsp. wilkesiana, Grindelia oregana, Grindelia acutifolia, Grindelia macrophylla, Grindelia hirsutula var. calva, Grindelia camporum f. foliacea, Grindelia stricta f. venulosa, Grindelia hirsutula var. davyi, Grindelia stricta f. elongata, Grindelia camporum var. interioris, Grindelia nana var. integrifolia, Grindelia robusta var. angustifolia, Grindelia rubricaulis f. minor, Grindelia hirsutula var. revoluta, Grindelia stricta var. andersonii, Grindelia rubricaulis var. elata, Grindelia squarrosa var. quasiperennis, Grindelia robusta var. platyphylla, Grindelia paludosa, Grindelia maritima, Grindelia stricta var. platyphylla, Grindelia inornata, Grindelia perennis, Grindelia hirsutula f. tomentulosa, Grindelia stricta var. lanata, Grindelia rubricaulis var. permixta, Grindelia fastigiata, Grindelia revoluta, Grindelia robusta var. davyi, Grindelia arenicola, Grindelia camporum var. parviflora, Grindelia hirsutula f. patens, Grindelia stricta subsp. venulosa, Grindelia hirsutula var. hallii, Grindelia camporum, Grindelia nana columbiana, Grindelia hirsutula var. acutifolia, Grindelia hendersonii, Grindelia oregana f. wilkesiana, Grindelia latifolia, Grindelia camporum var. abbreviata, Grindelia nana f. longisquama, Grindelia bracteosa, Grindelia humilis var. platyphylla, Grindelia stricta, Grindelia brownii, Grindelia blakei, Grindelia nana f. puberula, Grindelia rubricaulis var. interioris, Grindelia patens, Grindelia cuneifolia, Grindelia stricta var. macrophylla, Grindelia robusta var. latifolia, Grindelia inornata var. angusta, Grindelia hirsutula f. pedunculoides, Grindelia rubricaulis var. platyphylla, Grindelia stricta subsp. blakei, Grindelia nana var. altissima, Grindelia camporum var. davyi
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Grindelia hirsutula, the hairy gumweed or hairy gumplant, is an erect, taprooted perennial herb or subshrub in the Asteraceae, native to western North America from British Columbia south through California into Baja California and east into the Great Basin, with isolated populations across Canada. It grows 30-250 cm tall, with reddish or purplish-brown stems bearing oblong to lanceolate, sessile, clasping leaves 2-10 cm long that are sharply toothed and often glandular-resinous. The plant is best known for its showy, golden-yellow flower heads 2-4 cm wide, borne singly or in branched corymbs at the stem tips; each head has numerous ray and disc florets and is subtended by recurved phyllaries that exude a copious, milky-white, sticky resin, especially in bud. Achenes are short, smooth and crowned by a pappus of a few stiff, deciduous awns. Grindelia hirsutula is highly variable and several local varieties, including the coastal var. maritima of San Francisco, are recognised. It occupies dry slopes, serpentine soils, coastal bluffs, roadsides and disturbed openings.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
The Diegueno (Kumeyaay) of southern California took a decoction of the leaves and stems as a blood tonic, and the Mahuna used the plant to treat itching skin eruption caused by poison oak (NAEB: Hedges, 1986; Romero, 1954). In broader Western herbal practice derived from California Native and Eclectic use, the resinous flowering tops are valued for bronchial catarrh, asthma, and topical application to poison-oak dermatitis.
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.