Solidago flexicaulis
Solidago sphacelata
broad-leaf goldenrod, verge d'or à tige zigzaguante, zig-zag goldenrod
autumn goldenrod, false goldenrod, limestone goldenrod
1–5+, flexuous, sparsely to moderately hairy in arrays.
usually 1, ascending to erect or arching, densely spreading-puberulent to occasionally subglabrous.
rosettes present at flowering;
basal and proximal cauline tapering to winged petioles, blades ovate, (70–)100–140(–180) × (27–)40–60(–80) mm (petioles 1/4–1/2 total leaf length), margins serrate-serrulate [teeth (14–)21–33(–45)], abaxial faces glabrous or moderately hairy, more densely so on nerves, adaxial glabrous or sparsely hairy;
mid to distal cauline sessile, blades narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 38–90(–150) × 10–30(–55) mm, reduced distally, becoming lanceolate in arrays, bases tapering, margins entire to serrate, apices acuminate to cuspidate, faces glabrous or sparsely hairy, abaxial glabrous or moderately hairy, more densely so along nerves.
basal (rosettes) present at flowering, conspicuously petiolate, petioles slightly winged distally, to 100 mm, blades cordate, 40–120 × 40–110 mm, margins coarsely sharp-serrate, apices acute to acuminate, abaxial faces moderately to densely spreading-puberulent, adaxial sparsely so or glabrate;
mid and distal cauline progressively reduced, less petiolate, blades ovate to lanceolate, less cordate distally, 40–60 × 20–30 mm, margins finely serrate.
0.5–5 mm, moderately to densely strigose;
bracteoles 1–3, lanceolate, usually near base of involucres and grading into phyllaries.
0–1 mm, sparsely hispido-strigose, bracteoles 1–4, lanceolate-ovate, grading into phyllaries.
campanulate, 4.5–7(–8) mm.
narrowly campanulate, 3–4.5 mm.
1–5;
laminae (2–)2.5–4(–5) × 0.7–2 mm.
3–6;
laminae ca. 1 × 0.5–0.7 mm.
4–8(–11);
corollas 2–3(–4) mm, lobes 1–1.6(–2) mm.
3–6;
corollas 2–2.5 mm, lobes 0.75–1.2 mm.
in ca. 3 series, strongly unequal, outermost 1–2 mm, innermost 3.7–4.7(–5.7) mm, linear-oblong, 1-nerved, apices obtuse to acute.
in 2–3 series, ovate, strongly unequal, outer somewhat keeled, firm, margins ciliate.
25–250, in short axillary and terminal racemiform clusters, lateral panicles (2–)7–31(–56) cm.
50–250, densely crowded, often subglomerate, in secund paniculiform arrays, proximal branches few, widely spreading, secund, elongate, distal short, recurved.
(obconic) 1–2(–3) mm, moderately to densely strigose;
pappi 3–4.5 mm.
1–2 mm, sparsely short-strigose;
pappi ca. 0.5 mm (forming many-bristled crown on longer cypselae).
= 18, 36.
= 18.
Solidago flexicaulis
Solidago sphacelata
The two cytotypes of Solidago flexicaulis show a strong geographic pattern. Diploids mostly occur east of the Appalachians except in the southwestern portion of the range, while tetraploids occur west of the mountains (J. G. Chmielewski and J. C. Semple 1985). The report of 2n = 90 for the species (Semple et al. 1993) was based on a specimen of the recently described Solidago faucibus. The significance of ploidy level on cypselae traits was analyzed in detail by Chmielewski et al. (1989).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
The vernacular name false goldenrod comes from the erroneous assignment of the species to the genus Brachychaeta rather than to Solidago, where it belongs.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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