Friday, September 12, 2008

Gooey Flowers

....
Gooey Flowers
Curly- top Gumweed
Grindellia squarrosa var. nuda
Near Goldsmith, Texas


There are so many different little yellow sunflower-y flowers around here, I don't always look closely at each and every one when we are out taking pictures. Imagine Donna and my surprise when we looked closely at this variety.

What is with all that gooey stuff in the centers, at every stage of its growth? So gooey, in fact, that when I accidentally got a little too close and got some on my camera lens it took forever to clean it off. Scary.

I highly anticipate the edification Quick identification (as always) by Mr. Burr Williams of the Sibley Nature Center in Midland. UPDATE: He provided not only identification but the following edification:

"Because of the gummy resin, it has long been used in herbal medicine, from using the gum to rub on wounds to slow blood down and prevent infection, to making a tea for coughs"

6 comments:

Andi said...

Debi, it's such a delight to see an update from you in my feed reader! Your photos are always a bright spot in my day.

lebanesa said...

Lovely pictures and so intriguing. Is that natural goo or are they sick flowers? I have never seen anything like that.

Irene said...

Things seem to become attached to it. That must serve a purpose.

marry said...

Lovely blog with lovely pictures.
---------------
marry

ahinfosource

Bobbie said...

Huh! Now I see what gooey is good for. What is the name of it?

lebanesa said...

that is so interesting. Yay for Mr Williams - so good you know where to ask these things. He is a treasure.