[Members of the Sunflower Family with
Button-like Flower Heads]
Columbia Gumplant, Columbia Gumweed, Columbia River Gumweed
Grindelia nana var. discoidea
Synonyms: Grindelia columbiana, Grindelia columbiana ssp. columbiana
In Washington this is considered Grindelia hirsutula (Synonyms: Grindelia arenicola,
Grindelia columbiana,
Grindelia integrifolia var. macrophylla,
Grindelia nana,
Grindelia nana ssp. columbiana,
Grindelia nana ssp. nana,
Grindelia nana var. discoidea,
Grindelia nana var. integerrima,
Grindelia nana var. integrifolia,
Grindelia nana var. nana,
Grindelia squarrosa var. quasiperennis,
Grindelia stricta,
Grindelia stricta ssp. stricta,
Grindelia stricta var. stricta)
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The photo at left 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 Columbia River gumweed observed on the shoreline of Pierce Island, Columbia River......October 7, 2021.
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.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it is found between the elevations
of 100'-2200' east of Lyle, WA.
Close-up view down onto the discoid flower head of Columbia gumweed as seen on disturbed soils along the lower portion of the Dalles Mt. Road about one-half mile east of its junction with Washington Highway 14.........July 10, 2009.
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Columbia gumweed as seen in vernally moist pools near Dancing Rock in the Columbia Hills of the eastern Columbia River Gorge.........August 8, 2011.
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Columbia gumplant still blooming around the Crawford Oaks Trailhead, Columbia Hills State Park...........October 12, 2013.
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The photo at left shows one of several columbia gumplants still in bloom along the old road up to the top of the falls at Eightmile Creek, Columbia Hills State Park..........January 15, 2015. The photo at center was observed near the same location on October 2, 2016 while the photo at right was observed near the same location on November 18, 2017.
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.........July 7, 2006.
Paul Slichter