May - October. Oval, long and slightly toothed, leaf base clasped around at stem. Lower elevations, trails, roads, open areas. Thick, fleshy, reddish stem. Often with many flower buds in different stages of development.
Some books give the scientific name as Grindelia stricta ssp venulosa or Grindelia latifolia.
The spiny bud is in the circled area of the photo. The various stages of the flower growth of Grindelia stricta platyphylla.