Solidago simplex
Solidago faucibus
alpine goldenrod, dune goldenrod, Mt. Albert goldenrod, Rand's goldenrod, spikelike goldenrod, sticky goldenrod
Gorge goldenrod
1–10+, ascending to erect, proximally glabrous, strigose in arrays.
1, erect, glabrous proximal to (and usually into proximal portions of) 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 present at flowering, abruptly tapering to winged petioles, blades ovate, 100–200 × 80–120 mm, broadly tapering to truncate or slightly cordate (rarely) bases, margins singly or doubly serrate (teeth 1–3(–6) mm);
mid to distal cauline subsessile to sessile, blades lanceolate, 130–200 × 45–85 mm, progressively reduced distally, margins serrate (teeth 1–3 mm), abaxially glabrous, adaxially scabrous-hispidulous at least along margins.
3.1–10.3 mm, glabrate to sparsely strigillose;
bracteoles few, linear.
2–5 mm (4–13 mm on South Carolina plants).
campanulate, 3–7 mm.
campanulate, 4.5–6(–7) mm.
7–16;
laminae 2–5 × 0.7–0.9 mm.
4–6;
laminae 2.2–3.5 × 0.8–1.7 mm.
6–31;
corollas 4–4.9 mm, lobes 0.6–1.3(–2) mm.
5–7(–11);
corollas 4–5.6 mm, lobes 1.6–2.5 mm.
(in 3–4 series) strongly unequal, often resinous;
outer ovate, acute, inner linear-oblong, obtuse.
(10–18) in 4–6 series, ascending, lanceolate, broadly acute to obtuse, glabrous except for fimbriate-ciliate margins towards tip.
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.
40–70, inconspicuously secund on longer branches, appearing fasciculate on shorter branches, borne in variable arrays, mostly narrow elongate and secund, consisting of axillary and terminal racemiform branches, or wider and compound, consisting of multiple array branches, proximally leafy-bracted, branches and peduncles (2.5–)4(–13) cm, hairy.
narrowly obconic, 1.9–3.2 mm, sometimes with dark ridges, strigillose;
pappi 1.9–5.2 mm (bristles sometimes clavate).
2.5–3.2 mm, short hairy at least on distal half;
pappi 3–4.7 mm.
= 90.
Solidago simplex
Solidago faucibus
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.)
In the Appalachian Plateau and Ridge and Valley physiographic provinces, Solidago faucibus shows a marked preference for gorgelike areas where rivers and creeks are entrenched in the surrounding terrain. It occurs in much more mesic sites than other taxa in the S. arguta complex.
(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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