''Solidago guiradonis'' is an uncommon species of
goldenrod known by the common name Guirado goldenrod.
It is native to the Central
California Coast Ranges of central
California, in southern
San Benito and western
Fresno Counties.
The species is a strict serpentine endemic with a range that includes the New Idria Serpentine Mass and Laguna Mountain Serpentine Mass. It is an obligate wetland species that occurs on the banks of perennial streams and rivers and also perennial seeps on the New Idria Serpentine Mass and Laguna Mountain Serpentine Mass.
Description
''Solidago guiradonis'' is a perennial herb growing from a woody
caudex
A caudex (plural: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695
In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is m ...
, sometimes reaching heights well over one meter (40 inches). The leaves are up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) long near the base of the plant but shorter farther up. They are linear to lance-shaped and have winged
petioles that expand to nearly sheath the stem at the bases. The herbage is mostly hairless.
[Flora of North America, A. Gray, 1865. Guirado’s goldenrod ]
/ref>
The inflorescence is a cluster of sometimes as many as 190 small flower heads
A pseudanthium (Greek for "false flower"; ) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, compos ...
in a branching, elongated array. Each flower head contains 10-21 yellow disc florets surrounded by up to 8-10 narrow yellow ray florets each 1 or 2 millimeters long.[
]
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment: ''Solidago guiradonis''''Solidago guiradonis'' — Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California
guiradonis
Endemic flora of California
Plants described in 1865
Flora without expected TNC conservation status
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