Solidago speciosa
Solidago patula
noble goldenrod, showy goldenrod
rough-leaf goldenrod, roundleaf goldenrod, swamp goldenrod
1(–5), erect, glabrous proximally to strigillose in arrays.
1–3+, erect (angular in cross section, sometimes winged on angles), glabrous or sparsely hairy in arrays.
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 abruptly narrowed to long, winged petioles, blades broadly ovate, 100–300 × 40–100 mm, relatively thick, margins serrate, apices acute, abaxially glabrous, adaxially scabrous;
distal cauline sessile, blades lanceolate, 50–80 × 15–20 mm, gradually reduced distally, subentire.
1.5–3 mm, sparsely to moderately scabroso-strigillose;
bracteoles linear, grading into phyllaries, scattered along peduncles, clustered near heads.
1–4 mm, sparsely hispido-strigose, bracteoles 2–5, lanceolate, grading into phyllaries distally.
narrowly campanulate, 4–6.5 mm.
3–4.5 mm.
(2–)3–7(–9);
laminae 3–4 × 0.5–1 mm.
5–12;
laminae 1.5–1.7 × 0.5 mm.
6–16;
corollas 2.5–4 mm, lobes 0.5–1.2 mm.
5–15;
corollas 2.8–3 mm, lobes 0.6–1.5 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.
(10–12) in 3–4 series, ovate to linear-ovate, unequal, obtuse.
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.
25–200, secund, in open, lax, secund, pyramidal, paniculiform arrays, branches ascending to recurved, often elongate with recurved ends.
(narrowly obconic) 1.6–2.5 mm, glabrous;
pappi 3–4.5 mm.
(sometimes mottled) 1.5–2 mm, strigillose;
pappi 2–3 mm.
Solidago speciosa
Solidago patula
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.)
Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).
Solidago patula is readily recognized by the angled stem and the sharkskin-like texture of the adaxial surface of the leaves.
(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 |
1. Plants relatively robust, proximal leaves large, 80–300 × 40–100 mm, sharply serrate; distal leaves relatively few, gradually reduced distally, serrate; n and s in mountains, to Alabama, Mississippi,Georgia | subsp. patula |
1. Plants more slender and small-leaved, proximal leaves narrower, 50–60 mm wide; distal leaves numerous, much reduced to bracts in array, usually finely serrate to entire; mostly coastal plain and adjacent piedmont | subsp. strictula |
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