Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands
Curlycup gumweed
Curlycup gumweed is a short-lived perennial or biennial forb averaging 1 to 3 feet high. Numerous branching stems bear alternately arranged leaves, typically 1 to 4 inches long with entire to serrate—or even somewhat lobed—margins. The flower heads are radiate with 25 to 40 yellow rays and a yellow center. The involucral bracts are strongly rolled back, and highly resinous. The fruit is an achene about 1/8 inch long bearing 2 to 3 awns. Flowering occurs in mid- to late-summer, typically beginning in July and continuing through August and into September. Occasional plants will be seen with flowers persisting into November.
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