Solidago speciosa
Solidago fistulosa
noble goldenrod, showy goldenrod
pine-barren goldenrod
1(–5), erect, glabrous proximally to strigillose in arrays.
1–20+, erect (stout), conspicuously spreading-hirsute, at least distally.
basal and proximal cauline (sometimes withering by flowering) tapering to winged petioles, blades lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, 50–300 (including petiole) × 12–80 mm (sometimes firm), margins sharply serrate to crenate or entire, faces glabrate to sparsely strigillose;
mid to distal cauline sessile, blades narrowly ovate to lanceolate or elliptic, 25–90 × 5–30 mm, gradually reduced distally, margins serrulate to entire (distally), ciliate, faces glabrous or sparsely scabroso-strigose.
basal and proximal cauline usually withering by flowering except on new shoots, tapering to broadly winged petioles, blades oblanceolate, 30–50 × 8–15 mm, rapidly increasing in size distally, margins shallowly serrate, scabroso-strigose, faces often more densely hairy than distal;
mid to distal cauline numerous, crowded, sessile, blades lanceolate-ovate to elliptic-oblong, larger ones 35–120 × 8–35 mm, much reduced distally, bases broad and ± clasping, margins obscurely serrulate or entire, faces usually moderately hirsuto-villous on midnerves, often less so abaxially, adaxial sparsely strigose or glabrous.
1.5–3 mm, sparsely to moderately scabroso-strigillose;
bracteoles linear, grading into phyllaries, scattered along peduncles, clustered near heads.
2–8 mm, sparsely to moderately strigillose;
bracteoles 1–3, linear to linear-lanceolate, tending to group proximal to involucres, sometimes grading into phyllaries.
narrowly campanulate, 4–6.5 mm.
narrowly campanulate, 3.5–5.5 mm.
(2–)3–7(–9);
laminae 3–4 × 0.5–1 mm.
(2–)4–10;
laminae 1.2–2.5 × 0.2–0.5 mm.
6–16;
corollas 2.5–4 mm, lobes 0.5–1.2 mm.
(2–)4–7;
corollas 4–5 mm, lobes 0.5–1 mm.
in 3–4 series, appressed, strongly unequal, outer ovate, mid and inner lanceolate, (midnerves often raised and thick) apices acute to obtuse or rounded, glabrous.
in 4–5 series, unequal, glabrous;
outer narrowly ovate-lanceolate, mid and inner linear-lanceolate.
15–300+, not secund, in usually dense, sometimes open, elongate, paniculiform to thyrsiform arrays, (5–)10–45 × (2–)3–7(–12) cm;
branches strongly ascending, often racemiform.
35–500, in paniculiform arrays, usually dense, branches recurved-secund.
(narrowly obconic) 1.6–2.5 mm, glabrous;
pappi 3–4.5 mm.
(narrowly obconic) 1.5–1.8 mm, sparsely strigillose, sometimes only apically;
pappi 3–4 mm.
= 18.
Solidago speciosa
Solidago fistulosa
Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).
Solidago speciosa occurs scattered throughout its range, often in small populations. Five races have been acknowledged; only three varieties appear to warrant recognition. The species is divided into two nearly allopatric subspecies. The typical subspecies includes two varieties that are sometimes difficult to distinguish and considerably overlap in their ranges. The differences in size and number of leaves and persistence of the proximal cauline leaves may be caused in part by growing conditions.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Solidago fistulosa grows mainly on the coastal plains. It was introduced at Stone Mountain, Georgia. Solidago pyramidata Pursh may be a synonym of S. fistulosa.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaves pale green, somewhat glaucous; plants 30–80 cm; e Colorado, extreme w Oklahoma, and adjacent New Mexico, disjunct in Black Hills (S. speciosa subsp. pallida) | var. pallida |
1. Leaves usually dark green, not glaucous; plants usually 80–200 cm; e deciduous forest onto e prairies and oak savannas (S. speciosa subsp. speciosa) | → 2 |
2. Basal leaves usually present at flowering, (20–) 28–55 mm wide, often coarsely serrate; mid cauline leaves (10–)20–28 mm wide, not crowded, not stiff, not scabrous; e UnitedStates | var. speciosa |
2. Basal leaves persisting or not to flowering, 8–20 mm wide, often entire or shallowly serrate; mid cauline leaves 4–15(–20) mm wide, often crowded, usually stiff, often somewhat scabrous; w portions of deciduous forest and adjacent prairies, glade habitats further east | var. rigidiuscula |
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