Spreading Gum Plant, known as Grindelia stricta v. platyphylla, is a coarse, bushy plant that gets it's common name from the white, sticky resin on the flower heads which protect the buds from harsh sunlight. It is found in areas of high salinity. The resinous tops were used by Native Americans as a wash for poison oak. It blooms from May through September and occurs on Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands, as well as on the mainland.