2. Grindelia lanceolata Nutt. (spiny-toothed gumweed)

G. lanceolata f. latifolia Steyerm.

Pl. 235 f–h; Map 983

Plants biennial or perennial herbs (flowering only once before dying). Stems 20–150 cm long. Stem leaves sessile, the blades 2–11 cm long, linear to lanceolate-oblong (rarely narrowly ovate), angled to rounded or occasionally nearly truncate at the base and slightly clasping to moderately sheathing the stem, tapered to a sharply pointed tip, the margins with sparse to moderate, narrow, fine or less commonly coarse, sharp teeth or less commonly some of the leaves entire, the teeth mostly with a minute, bristlelike extension at the tip, the surfaces appearing not or only slightly resinous, with moderate to dense glandular dots, but these inconspicuous and only slightly differing in color from the surrounding leaf tissue. Inflorescences of solitary heads or loose clusters at the branch tips. Receptacle 1.5–2.0 cm in diameter. Involucre 10–20 mm long, the bracts in 4–6 subequal series, loosely ascending to slightly curved outward. Ray florets 14–30, the corolla 8–16 mm long. Disc florets perfect or some of the inner and/or outer ones functionally staminate, the corollas 4.0–7.5 mm long. Pappus of 2 slender awns, 4–8 mm long, these not barbed, not fused at the base, not persistent at fruiting (usually shed individually as the fruit matures), off-white to straw-colored. Fruits 3–6 mm long, straw-colored to light gray. 2n=12. August–October.

Scattered mostly in the southern half of the state (Kansas to Texas east to Ohio, Virginia, and Alabama). Glades, upland prairies, openings of mesic to dry upland forests, and rarely banks of streams and rivers; also pastures, old fields, railroads, and roadsides; often on calcareous substrates.

Steyermark (1934, 1963) referred to plants with slightly broader upper stem leaves as f. latifolia.