Solidago elongata
Solidago spithamaea
Cascade Canada goldenrod, narrow goldenrod, west coast Canada goldenrod, west coast goldenrod, west coast or Cascade Canada goldenrod
Blue Ridge goldenrod, skunk or Blue Ridge goldenrod
1–20+, erect, proximally sparsely to moderately strigoso-villous, distally usually moderately to densely so.
1–10+, erect (usually simple), rough-puberulent or shortly spreading hirsute, or proximally glabrate.
basal 0;
proximal cauline sessile, blades narrowly to broadly oblanceolate, 35–75(–100) × (6–)7.5–14(–20) mm, proximal much smaller, tapering to bases, margins subentire or finely serrulate to coarsely, sharply serrate (teeth 0–9 per side), ciliate, 3-nerved, sometimes obscurely so, apices acute, abaxial faces glabrate to sparsely short-strigose, adaxial glabrous;
mid to distal cauline sessile, blades oblanceolate, becoming lanceolate distally, 20–60 × 4–8(–11) mm, largest near mid stem, somewhat to much reduced distally, margins entire or finely serrulate, rarely serrate (teeth 1–8 per side), usually becoming entire to sparsely serrulate distally, ciliate, apices acute, faces glabrous or sparsely strigoso-villous, more so along abaxial nerves.
basal petioles 1.5–7 mm, blades spatulate to lanceolate or subrhombic, mostly 50–109 × 15–40 mm, bases tapering, glabrous, margins sharply serrate, ciliate, apices acuminate;
mid and distal sessile, blades lanceolate to subrhombic, much reduced distally, margins serrulate becoming entire distally, glabrous.
2–7 mm, sparsely to moderately short strigoso-villous;
bracteoles 1–3, linear, rarely minutely stipitate-glandular.
1–7, short-strigose;
bracts leaflike, 5–15 mm.
narrowly campanulate, 2.5–3.5(–4) mm.
campanulate, 5–6 mm.
(8–)11–15(–17);
laminae 1–2.5 × 0.1–0.4(–0.7) mm.
8–10(–15);
laminae 2–3.5 mm.
(3–)5–11(–16);
corollas 2.6–3.7(–4) mm, lobes 0.5–1.2 mm.
20–60;
corollas 3.5–4.5 mm, lobes 1.5–2 mm.
in 3–4 series, strongly unequal, margins sparsely long ciliate, acute, faces glabrous, rarely sparsely minutely stipitate-glandular;
outer lanceolate, inner linear-lanceolate.
(in 3–4 series) lanceolate, unequal (midnerves swollen), acute to acuminate (tips dark green).
12–500+, sometimes secund, in short to long, thyrsiform or narrowly secund-pyramidal paniculiform arrays, usually congested, club-shaped to rarely wand-shaped, (2.5–) 10–20 × (2–)4–8(–10) cm, branches usually ascending or sometimes arching spreading.
15–50+ in compactly rounded corymbiform arrays, becoming paniculiform in robust plants.
(narrowly obconic) 1–1.5 mm, sparsely to moderately strigose;
pappi 2.5–3.3 mm.
2–3 mm, sparsely strigose to glabrate;
pappi (of 12–22 bristles) about 3 mm.
= 18, 36.
= 54.
Solidago elongata
Solidago spithamaea
In California, coastal plants of Solidago elongata often have thicker leaves; those of the Sierras are often membranous and obscurely triple-nerved. This species can be similar to S. lepida, which usually has much larger distal cauline leaves.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Solidago spithamaea is listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The species is extant at only three locations; all other known populations were extirpated. It is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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