Solidago simplex
Solidago erecta
alpine goldenrod, dune goldenrod, Mt. Albert goldenrod, Rand's goldenrod, spikelike goldenrod, sticky goldenrod
showy goldenrod, slender goldenrod
1–10+, ascending to erect, proximally glabrous, strigose in arrays.
usually single, erect, essentially glabrous basally to hispidulo-puberulent in arrays.
basal and proximal cauline petiolate, blades narrowly oblanceolate, (20–)50–100(–160) × (2–)5–16(–56) mm, margins serrate to crenate, apices acute to obtuse, glabrous;
mid and distal sessile, similar, blades lanceolate to linear, 12–45 × 2–19 mm, reduced distally, margins entire to sparsely serrate, sometimes resinous.
basal and proximal cauline tapering to long, winged petioles (quickly reduced distally on stems), blades broadly oblanceolate to obovate, 40–150 × 15–50 mm, margins serrate, finely ciliate, apices acute to obtuse, faces glabrous;
mid and distal cauline sessile, blades linear-elliptic, 5–50 × 2–10 mm, margins entire, finely ciliate.
3.1–10.3 mm, glabrate to sparsely strigillose;
bracteoles few, linear.
1–3 mm.
campanulate, 3–7 mm.
narrowly campanulate, 3.5–6.5 mm.
7–16;
laminae 2–5 × 0.7–0.9 mm.
5–9;
laminae 2.5–3.5 × 0.7–1 mm.
6–31;
corollas 4–4.9 mm, lobes 0.6–1.3(–2) mm.
commonly 6–10;
corollas 4 mm, lobes ca. 1 mm.
(in 3–4 series) strongly unequal, often resinous;
outer ovate, acute, inner linear-oblong, obtuse.
in 3–5 series, appressed, strongly unequal, outer ovate, inner broadly oblong, obtuse to rounded, glabrous.
3–150, not secund, in narrowly elongate, paniculiform arrays, broadly so in robust plants (12.5–19 × 2.5–3 cm wide), consisting of short axillary and terminal racemiform clusters, proximal branches elongate in larger plants, branches glabrate to strigillose.
15–350 (1–10 per branch), clustered on short divergent lateral branches in elongate and usually narrowly paniculiform arrays, often interrupted proximally, not secund, sometimes with ascending, straight or arching, elongate branches (like main axis).
narrowly obconic, 1.9–3.2 mm, sometimes with dark ridges, strigillose;
pappi 1.9–5.2 mm (bristles sometimes clavate).
(tan) ca. 2.5 mm, glabrous;
pappi 3 mm.
= 18.
Solidago simplex
Solidago erecta
Varieties 7 (7 in the flora).
The somewhat viscid-resinous heads of Solidago simplex are its most distinctive feature, separating it from similar sympatric species. G. S. Ringius (1985) did a detailed multivariate analysis of the S. spathulata/S. simplex complex (the latter under the name S. glutinosa). The cytogeography of the species complex was presented by Ringius and J. C. Semple (1987). Neither study included data on the next three species occurring in the southeastern United States.
The species is divided into two subspecies and seven varieties following G. S Ringius (1985) and J. C. Semple et al. (1999). Three varieties occur in the diploid transcontinental subsp. simplex: var. simplex, var. nana, and var. chlorolepis. Four varieties occur in the eastern North American tetraploid-hexaploid subsp. randii: var. monticola, var. gillmanii, var. ontarioensis, and var. racemosa. Except for var. simplex, varieties are restricted to different habitats in relatively limited ranges.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Solidago erecta is mostly absent from the coastal plain in the southeastern United States.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Basal and cauline leaves spatulate to orbiculate, apices obtuse to rounded; cypselae moderately to densely strigose (S. simplex subsp. simplex) | → 2 |
1. Basal and cauline leaves spatulate to obovate, apices usually acute; cypselae sparsely to moderately strigose (S. simplex subsp. randii) | → 5 |
2. Cauline leaves 5–16 (longest 60+ mm); w North America, disjunct along shores of upper Great Lakes and in s Quebec | var. simplex |
2. Cauline leaves 2–7 (longest to 60 mm); alpine slopes, w North America, Mt. Albert, Gaspé, Quebec | → 3 |
3. Shortest phyllaries 1.4–2 mm; disc corollas 3.9–4.2 mm; serpentine soils, Mt. Albert, Gaspé, Quebec | var. chlorolepis |
3. Shortest phyllaries 2.1–3.1 mm; disc corollas 4.2–5.4 mm; alpine slopes, Rocky Mountains, Cascade Mountains, Vancouver Island. | → 4 |
4. Basal leaves usually spatulate, rarely broadly elliptic, proximal blades gradually attenuated to winged petioles, margins weakly crenate; alpine slopes, Rocky Mountains | var. simplex |
4. Basal leaves orbiculate to broadly elliptic, proximal blades abruptly attenuated to winged petioles, margins distinctly crenate; alpine slopes of Cascade Mountains, Vancouver Island | var. nana |
5. Proximal cauline leaves spatulate to obovate, (5–)10–42 mm wide; leaf margins often sharply serrate | → 6 |
5. Proximal cauline leaves lanceolate to narrowly spatulate, 2–10(–21.5) mm wide; leaf margins entire or dentate, rarely serrate | → 7 |
6. Plants (10–)18–53(–83) cm, arrays tending to be compact, virgate; proximal cauline leaves (5–)10–22(–31) mm wide, margins crenate to serrate; barren, rocky, non-alpine uplands; se Quebec, New England, New York | var. monticola |
6. Plants (20–)38–73(–84) cm, robust, arrays tending to be paniculiform; proximal cauline leaves (6–)7.5–24(–42) mm wide, margins often sharply serrate; sand dunes, Lake Michigan, n Lake Huron | var. gillmanii |
7. Cauline leaves (3–)12–33(–58); peduncle bracteoles 2+; calcareous rocky riverbanks, e Quebec s to West Virginia and Maryland | var. racemosa |
7. Cauline leaves (2–)4–13(–24); peduncle bracteoles 1–3(–4); rocky shores, Lake Superior, n Lake Huron | var. ontarioensis |
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