White Froth on flower

Moved

… Charley Eiseman, 29 September, 2020 - 6:03am

Not a gall--this is the "gum" secreted by gumweed!

As Joyce suggested, this plant is not Helianthus, but instead belongs to a different genus in the sunflower family, Grindelia. The sticky white "froth" is a normal part of the plant.

Grindelia is common in the SF Bay Area where you took the photo.

… Nancy Asquith, 28 September, 2020 - 10:48pm

Spittlebugs?

There's not enough detail in this photo for me to tell, but could this have been spittlebug spittle?

… Charley Eiseman, 15 January, 2014 - 9:10am

froth on flower

I have seen spittlebug so many times. The pattern is usually so different and usually on the stems . This was specifically on the buds only

… Hema Shah, 15 January, 2014 - 10:22pm

Do you have any more close-up shots of the froth?

Knowing what the host plant is would probably help too. I can see that it's some sort of composite (Asteraceae), but have no idea beyond that.

… Charley Eiseman, 16 January, 2014 - 5:42am

close up of froth

it seemed more like Latex.

… Hema Shah, 23 January, 2014 - 11:17pm

name of flower

It is California sunflower,
"Helianthus californicus"

… Hema Shah, 16 January, 2014 - 5:36pm

Grindelia?

Are you sure this isn't a species of Grindelia? The common name of these plants is "gumplant" or "gumweed". The flowers normally secret a sticky substance like this before opening. See some photos showing this:

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0611+0675

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0707+1598

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=6666+6666+0413+0360

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0114+2140

And some information on one California species:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grindelia_stricta

… Joyce Gross, 26 June, 2014 - 3:19pm

Thanks Joyce. It looks like a

Thanks Joyce. It looks like a Grindella species. We do have those here on Mt Diablo and surroundings.

… Hema Shah, 27 June, 2014 - 12:01am

white froth

That was my first reaction.Caddisfly suck sap out . i saw a few, Could they leave this residue?

… Hema Shah, 15 January, 2014 - 7:04pm

Caddisflies

No, I don't think they could produce anything like this.

… Charley Eiseman, 15 January, 2014 - 8:34pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 13 January, 2014 - 9:52am