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''Solidago'', commonly called goldenrods, is a genus of about 100 to 120''Solidago''.
Flora of China.
species of
flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants t ...
s in the family
Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae ...
. Most are herbaceous
perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...
species found in open areas such as meadows, prairies, and savannas. They are mostly native to
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and th ...
, including Mexico; a few species are native to South America and Eurasia. Some American species have also been introduced into
Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
and other parts of the world.


Description

''Solidago'' species are perennials growing from woody
caudices 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 ...
or
rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow ...
s. Their stems range from decumbent (crawling) to ascending or erect, with a range of heights going from to over a meter. Most species are unbranched, but some do display branching in the upper part of the plant. Both leaves and stems vary from
glabrous Glabrousness (from the Latin '' glaber'' meaning "bald", "hairless", "shaved", "smooth") is the technical term for a lack of hair, down, setae, trichomes or other such covering. A glabrous surface may be a natural characteristic of all or part of ...
(hairless) to various forms of pubescence (strigose, strigillose, hispid, stipitate-glandular or villous). In some species, the basal leaves are shed before flowering. The
leaf margin A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...
s are most commonly entire, but often display heavier
serration Serration is a saw-like appearance or a row of sharp or tooth-like projections. A serrated cutting edge has many small points of contact with the material being cut. By having less contact area than a smooth blade or other edge, the applied p ...
. Some leaves may display trinerved venation rather than the pinnate venation usual across Asteraceae. The flower is also the state flower of Kentucky. The
flower head 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 ...
s are usually of the radiate type (typical daisy flower heads with distinct ray and disc
floret This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
s) but sometimes discoid (with only disc florets of mixed, sterile, male and types). Only ray florets are female, others are male, hermaphroditic or entire sterile. Head involucres are campanulate to cylindric or attenuate.
Floret This glossary of botanical terms is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to botany and plants in general. Terms of plant morphology are included here as well as at the more specific Glossary of plant morphology and Glossary o ...
corollas are usually yellow, but white in the ray florets of a few species (such as ''
Solidago bicolor ''Solidago bicolor'', with several common names including white goldenrod, silverrod and (in Québec) verge d’or bicolore, is a plant species native to much of eastern North America. It is found in Canada (from Manitoba to Nova Scotia) and in ...
''); they are typically hairless. Heads usually include between 2 and 35 disc florets, but in some species this may go up to 60. Filaments are inserted closer to the base of the corolla than its middle. Numerous heads are usually grouped in complex compound inflorescences where heads are arranged in multiple
raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...
s,
panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...
s,
corymb Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial ...
s, or secund arrays (with florets all on the same side). ''Solidago''
cypselae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...
are narrowly obconic to cylindrical in shape, and they are sometimes somewhat compressed. They have eight to 10 ribs usually and are hairless or moderately hispid. The pappus is very big with barbellate bristles. The many goldenrod species can be difficult to distinguish, due to their similar bright, golden-yellow flower heads that bloom in late summer. Propagation is by wind-disseminated
seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiosper ...
s or by spreading underground
rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow ...
s which can form colonies of vegetative clones of a single plant. They are mostly short-day plants and bloom in late summer and early fall. Some species produce abundant nectar when moisture is plentiful, or when the weather is warm and sunny. The section '' Ptarmicoidei'' is sometimes treated as a separate genus ''Oligoneuron'', and is dropped by flat-topped to rounded
corymbiform Corymb is a botanical term for an inflorescence with the flowers growing in such a fashion that the outermost are borne on longer pedicels than the inner, bringing all flowers up to a common level. A corymb has a flattish top with a superficial ...
flowerheads.


Taxonomy

''Solidago'' is in the family Asteraceae (formerly known as Compositae), a diverse and widespread clade containing approximately 23,000 species and 12 tribes, which inhabit all continents except Antarctica. Within Asteraceae, ''Solidago'' is in the tribe Astereae and the subtribe Solidagininaeae. The genus ''Solidago'' is monophyletic as indicated by morphological characters and molecular evidence. All ''Solidago'' species are herbaceous perennials, growing from approximately 2 cm to 2.5 m tall. Yellow to white, pistillate ray flowers and yellow, perfect disc florets are characteristic of ''Solidago'' inflorescences, which have a wide range of shapes. Molecular studies using nuclear rDNA have hypothesized boundaries on the genus ''Solidago'', but there have been difficulties in parsing out evolutionary relationships at the sub-genus scale and defining which should be included and separated from ''Solidago''.


''Solidago'' and related taxa

Related Asteraceae genera, such as '' Chrysoma'', '' Euthamia'', and '' Oreochrysum'', have been included within ''Solidago'' at one point or another, but morphological evidence has suggested otherwise. In a study comparing morphological characters of ''Solidago'' and related subgroups, the authors consider the subjectivity of classifying a genus and how to define it within broader tendencies concerning the taxonomy of North American Asteraceae. Little to no differences were observed between ''Solidago'' and the subgroups in terms of karyotype. However, external morphological characters such as habit, or the general appearance of the plant and how a suite of traits contribute to its phenotype; pappus size; and the point of freeing of stamen filaments from the corolla tube, are useful classification schemes for ''Solidago'', since they are applied to differentiating between Asteraceae taxa. One school of Asteraceae taxonomy thought unites all taxa sharing similar floral head structure and subsequently ignores deviation from this morphology, while another places greater weight on these morphological deviations. The authors argue that the latter opinion should be applied. Since there is no theoretical foundation for relative taxonomic importance of traits, they assert that habit should be a central trait when defining taxa, and subsequently that all the subgroups considered in their study ('' Brachychaeta'', ''Chrysoma'', ''Euthamia'', ''Oligoneuron'', and '' Petradoria'') should be segregated from ''Solidago''. Results from a leaf anatomy study comparing differences in mesophyll, bundle sheath extensions, and midvein structure, among others in a suite of leaf traits, are incongruent with those in an earlier study. Based on the lack of bundle sheath extensions, it is suggested that ''Chrysoma'', ''Euthamia'', '' Gundlachia'', and ''Petradoria'' should be distinct taxa and outside of ''Solidago''. However, ''Brachychaeta'', '' Brintonia'', ''Oligoneuron'', ''Oreochrysum'', and ''Aster'' should be considered as components of ''Solidago''. To summarize, the relation of ''Brachychaeta'' and ''Oligoneuron'' to ''Solidago'' is inconsistent based on these results. Both support the separation of ''Chrysoma'', ''Euthamia'', and ''Petradoria'' from ''Solidago''. A study reviews the taxonomic position of ''Oligoneuron'' relative to ''Solidago'', as based on taxonomic evidence, treats it as separate from ''Solidago'', similarly to Kapoor & Beaudry (1966). The first molecular phylogeny based on chloroplast DNA treats ''Brachychaeta'', ''Brintonia'', ''Oligoneuron'', and ''Oreochrysum'' as constituents of ''Solidago''. Using consensus trees from ITS data, another study found support for ''Oligoneuron'' as part of ''Solidago'', and the findings of Zhang (1996). More recently, an analysis of combined ITS and ETS data provided additional support for the inclusion of ''Oligoneuron'' as part of ''Solidago''. Until the 1980s, the genus ''Euthamia'' was largely considered to be a part of ''Solidago'' due to morphological similarities between species in both genera, and a history of synonymy of ''Solidago lanceolata'' and ''Euthamia graminifolia''. As mentioned, the lack of bundle sheath extensions in ''Euthamia'' compared to ''Solidago'', and deviations in floral morphology present evidence for separation of these taxa. A taxonomy of ''Euthamia'' as a genus was presented, providing a detailed description of distinguishing external morphological characters, such as fibrous-roots, sessile leaves, and mostly corymbiform inflorescences.


Evolutionary relationships within ''Solidago''

Chromosome counts and advances in molecular systematics have enabled greater understanding of evolutionary relationships within ''Solidago''. At the time a taxonomy of ''Solidago'' was published, related taxa causing contention, such as ''Chrysoma'', ''Euthamia'', ''Oligoneuron'', and ''Petradoria'', were excluded from this genus. The number of ''Solidago'' species has remained relatively stable, around 120, with approximately 80 in North America. Due to monophyletic support for the New World taxa and taxonomic difficulties with Old World taxa, the taxonomy provided in the 1990s only includes North American taxa and thus treats ''Solidago'' as non-monophyletic. Existing molecular-based phylogenies provide monophyletic support for ''Solidago'' given its inclusion of ''Oligoneuron''. Chromosome counts have proven to be a valuable character in ''Solidago'' taxonomy and in elucidating the cytogeographic history of the genus. Similar chromosome counts may indicate close evolutionary relationships, while different chromosome numbers may suggest distant relationships through reproductive isolation. Chromosome counts have been studied extensively in North America; all ''Solidago'' species have a base chromosome number of x=9, but the following ploidy levels have been observed: 2x, 3x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 10x, 12x, and 14x. Though negligible differences in karyotype among ''Solidago'' and related genera were found, ''Solidago'' taxa with multiple cytotypes are more common than those with one. Although chromosome count is a useful metric for differentiating among ''Solidago'' taxa, it may be problematic due to the frequent variation in ploidy levels. Cytogeographic patterns in the ''Solidago gigantea'' complex, with tetraploids occurring in eastern North America and hexaploids in Oregon and Washington, were observed. Cytogeographic patterns are also observed in the ''
Solidago canadensis ''Solidago canadensis'', known as Canada goldenrod or Canadian goldenrod, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. It is native to northeastern and north-central North America and often forms colonies of upright growing plants, ...
'' complex: hexaploids within ''S. canadensis'' have been observed east of the Great Plains and are treated as '' Solidago altissima'', and diploids and tetraploids occurring in the Great Plains are treated as ''Solidago gilvocanescens''. The taxonomic status of ''Solidago ptarmicoides'' created an extensive debate due to frequency hybridization of ''S. ptarmicoides'' with members of the ''Ptarmicoidei'' section of ''Solidago''. It was asserted that ''S. ptarmicoides'' should be united with ''Solidago'' rather than the genus ''Aster'' due to external morphological features such as similar pappus length as well as the same chromosome base (x=9). Information about chromosome number is still a crucial part of current understanding and phylogenies of ''Solidago''.


Use and cultivation

Young goldenrod leaves are edible. Traditionally, Native Americans use the seeds of some species for food.
Herbal tea Herbal teas, also known as herbal infusions and less commonly called tisanes (UK and US , US also ), are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water. Oftentimes herb tea, or the plain term ...
s are sometimes made with goldenrod. Goldenrod often is inaccurately said to cause
hay fever Allergic rhinitis, of which the seasonal type is called hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose that occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, i ...
in humans. The pollen causing this allergic reaction is produced mainly by ragweed (''Ambrosia'' sp.), blooming at the same time as the goldenrod and pollinated by wind. Goldenrod
pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by seed plants. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen grains have a hard coat made of sporopollenin that protects the gametop ...
is too heavy and sticky to be blown far from the flowers, and is pollinated mainly by insects. Frequent handling of goldenrod and other flowers, however, can cause allergic reactions, sometimes irritating enough to force florists to change occupation. Goldenrods are attractive sources of nectar for bees, flies, wasps, and butterflies.
Honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of plants (primar ...
from goldenrods often is dark and strong because of admixtures of other nectars. However, when honey flow is strong, a light (often water-clear), spicy-tasting monofloral honey is produced. While the bees are ripening the honey produced from goldenrods, it has a rank odour and taste; the finished honey is much milder. Goldenrods are, in some places, considered a sign of good luck or good fortune. They are considered
weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, "a plant in the wrong place", or a plant growing where it is not wanted.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. ...
s by many in North America, but they are prized as garden plants in Europe, where British gardeners adopted goldenrod as a garden subject. Goldenrod began to gain some acceptance in U.S. gardening (other than wildflower gardening) during the 1980s. They have become invasive species in many other parts of the world, including China, Japan, Europe and Africa. ''Solidago canadensis'', which was introduced as a garden plant in Central Europe, has become common in the wild, and in
Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
is considered an
invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species adv ...
that displaces native vegetation from its natural habitat. Goldenrod species are used as a food source by the
larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...
e of many Lepidoptera species. The invading larva may induce the plant to form a bulbous tissue mass called a
gall Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants, fungi, or animals. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to be ...
around it, upon which the larva then feeds. Various parasitoid wasps find these galls and lay eggs in the larvae, penetrating the bulb with their
ovipositor The ovipositor is a tube-like organ used by some animals, especially insects, for the laying of eggs. In insects, an ovipositor consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages. The details and morphology of the ovipositor vary, but typical ...
s. Woodpeckers are known to peck open the galls and eat the insects in the center.


Cultivated species

Cultivated goldenrods include '' S. bicolor'', '' S. caesia'', '' S. canadensis'', '' S. cutleri'', '' S. riddellii,'' '' S. rigida'', '' S. shortii'', and '' S. virgaurea''. A number of
cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...
s have been selected, including several of hybrid origin. A putative hybrid with aster, known as ×''Solidaster'' is less unruly, with pale yellow flowers, equally suitable for dried arrangements. Molecular and other evidence points to ×''Solidaster'' (at least the cultivar 'Lemore') being a hybrid of '' Solidago ptarmicoides'' and ''
Solidago canadensis ''Solidago canadensis'', known as Canada goldenrod or Canadian goldenrod, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. It is native to northeastern and north-central North America and often forms colonies of upright growing plants, ...
'', the former now in ''Solidago'', but likely the "aster" in question. The
cultivars A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture, ...
'Goldenmosa' and ''S.'' × ''luteus'' 'Lemore' have gained the
Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...
's
Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...
.


Industrial use

Inventor
Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventi ...
experimented with goldenrod to produce
rubber Rubber, also called India rubber, latex, Amazonian rubber, ''caucho'', or ''caoutchouc'', as initially produced, consists of polymers of the organic compound isoprene, with minor impurities of other organic compounds. Thailand, Malaysia, and ...
, which it contains naturally. Edison created a fertilization and cultivation process to maximize the rubber content in each plant. His experiments produced a plant that yielded as much as 12% rubber. The tires on the
Model T The Ford Model T is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, which made car travel available to middle-class Americans. The relati ...
given to him by his friend
Henry Ford Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was an American industrialist, business magnate, founder of the Ford Motor Company, and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production. By creating the first automobile that ...
were made from goldenrod. Like
George Washington Carver George Washington Carver ( 1864 – January 5, 1943) was an American agricultural scientist and inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. He was one of the most prominent black scientists of the e ...
,
Henry Ford Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was an American industrialist, business magnate, founder of the Ford Motor Company, and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production. By creating the first automobile that ...
was deeply interested in the regenerative properties of soil and the potential of alternative crops such as peanuts and soybeans to produce plastics, paint, fuel and other products. Ford had long believed that the world would eventually need a substitute for gasoline, and supported the production of ethanol (or grain alcohol) as an alternative fuel. In 1942, he would showcase a car with a lightweight plastic body made from soybeans. Ford and Carver began corresponding via letter in 1934, and their mutual admiration deepened after
George Washington Carver George Washington Carver ( 1864 – January 5, 1943) was an American agricultural scientist and inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. He was one of the most prominent black scientists of the e ...
made a visit to Michigan in 1937. As
Douglas Brinkley Douglas Brinkley (born December 14, 1960) is an American author, Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities, and professor of history at Rice University. Brinkley is the history commentator for CNN, Presidential Historian for the New York Histor ...
writes in ''Wheels for the World'', his history of Ford, the automaker donated generously to the Tuskegee Institute, helping finance Carver's experiments, and Carver in turn spent a period of time helping to oversee crops at the Ford plantation in Ways, Georgia. By the time World War II began, Ford had made repeated journeys to Tuskegee to convince
George Washington Carver George Washington Carver ( 1864 – January 5, 1943) was an American agricultural scientist and inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. He was one of the most prominent black scientists of the e ...
to come to Dearborn and help him develop a synthetic rubber to help compensate for wartime rubber shortages. Carver arrived on July 19, 1942, and set up a laboratory in an old water works building in Dearborn. He and Ford experimented with different crops, including sweet potatoes and dandelions, eventually devising a way to make the rubber substitute from goldenrod, a plant weed commercially viable. Carver died in January 1943, Ford in April 1947, but the relationship between their two institutions continued to flourish: As recently as the late 1990s, Ford awarded grants of $4 million over two years to the George Washington Carver School at Tuskegee. Extensive process development was conducted during World War II to commercialize goldenrod as a source of rubber. The rubber is only contained in the leaves, not the stems or blooms. Typical rubber content of the leaves is 7%. The resulting rubber is of low
molecular weight A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions which satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and bio ...
, resulting in an excessively tacky compound with poor tensile properties.


Traditional medicine

''
Solidago virgaurea ''Solidago virgaurea'', the European goldenrod or woundwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. It is widespread across most of Europe as well as North Africa and northern, central, and southwestern Asia (China, Russia, ...
'' is used in a traditional kidney tonic by practitioners of
herbal medicine Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedie ...
to counter inflammation and irritation caused by bacterial infections or
kidney stone Kidney stone disease, also known as nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis, is a crystallopathy where a solid piece of material (kidney stone) develops in the urinary tract. Kidney stones typically form in the kidney and leave the body in the urine s ...
s.Campion, K. (1995). ''Holistic Woman's Herbal – How to Achieve Health and Well-Being at Any Age''. Barnes & Noble, Inc. 1995. pp. 65, 96. Goldenrod is also used in some formulas for cleansing of the kidney or bladder during a healing fast, in conjunction with potassium broth and specific juices. Some Native American cultures traditionally chew the leaves to relieve sore throats, and the roots to relieve toothaches.


Medicinal exploration

In various assessments by the European Medicines Agency with respect to ''
Solidago virgaurea ''Solidago virgaurea'', the European goldenrod or woundwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. It is widespread across most of Europe as well as North Africa and northern, central, and southwestern Asia (China, Russia, ...
'', non-clinical data shows diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic and spasmolytic, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer and immunomodulatory activity. However, as no single ingredient is responsible for these effects, the whole herbal preparation of ''Solidago'' inflorescences must be considered as the active ingredient.


Cultural significance

The goldenrod is the state flower of the
U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...
s of
Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia ...
(adopted 1926) and
Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
(adopted 1895). ''Solidago altissima'', tall goldenrod, was named the state wildflower of
South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...
in 2003. The sweet goldenrod (''Solidago odora'') is the state herb of
Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent ...
. Goldenrod was the state flower of
Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...
, but it was later rejected in favor of the
camellia ''Camellia'' (pronounced or ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalayas east to Japan and Indonesia. There are more than 220 described species, with some controve ...
.


Diversity


Accepted species

SourceThe Plant List, search for ''Solidago''
/ref> *'' Solidago albopilosa'' E.L.Braun – whitehair goldenrod *'' Solidago altiplanities'' C.E.S. Taylor & R.J.Taylor – high plains goldenrod *'' Solidago altissima'' L. – Canada goldenrod, late goldenrod *'' Solidago amplexicaulis'' Torr. & A.Gray *'' Solidago arenicola'' B.R. Keener & Kral – southern racemose goldenrod *'' Solidago argentinensis'' López Laphitz, Rita María & Semple *''
Solidago arguta ''Solidago arguta'', commonly called Atlantic goldenrod, cut-leaf goldenrod, and sharp-leaved goldenrod, is a species of flowering plant native to eastern and central North America. It grows along the Gulf and Atlantic states of the United States ...
'' Ait. – Atlantic goldenrod, forest goldenrod, toothed goldenrod, cut-leaf goldenrod *'' Solidago aurea'' Spreng. *'' Solidago auriculata'' Shuttlw. ex Blake – eared goldenrod, clasping goldenrod *'' Solidago bartramiana'' Fernald *''
Solidago bicolor ''Solidago bicolor'', with several common names including white goldenrod, silverrod and (in Québec) verge d’or bicolore, is a plant species native to much of eastern North America. It is found in Canada (from Manitoba to Nova Scotia) and in ...
'' L. – white goldenrod, silverrod *'' Solidago brachyphylla'' Chapman – Dixie goldenrod *'' Solidago brendiae'' Semple *'' Solidago buckleyi'' Torr. & Gray – Buckley's goldenrod *''
Solidago caesia ''Solidago caesia'', commonly named blue-stemmed goldenrod, wreath goldenrod, or woodland goldenrod, is a flowering plant native to North America. Description Key identification features include a dark, wiry, blue or purple stem, and flower head ...
'' L. – wreath goldenrod, axillary goldenrod, bluestem goldenrod, woodland goldenrod *'' Solidago calcicola'' (Fernald) Fernald *'' Solidago californica'' Nutt. - California goldenrod *''
Solidago canadensis ''Solidago canadensis'', known as Canada goldenrod or Canadian goldenrod, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. It is native to northeastern and north-central North America and often forms colonies of upright growing plants, ...
'' L. – Canada goldenrod, Canadian goldenrod, common goldenrod *'' Solidago chilensis'' Meyen *'' Solidago compacta'' Turcz. *'' Solidago confinis'' A.Gray *'' Solidago coreana'' (Nakai) H.S.Pak *'' Solidago curtisii'' Torr. & A.Gray – mountain decumbent goldenrod, Curtis' goldenrod *'' Solidago dahurica'' (Kitagawa) Kitagawa ex Juzepczuk *'' Solidago decurrens'' Loureiro *'' Solidago delicatula'' Small – elmleaf goldenrod, smooth elm-leaf goldenrod *'' Solidago drummondii'' Torr. & A.Gray. – Drummond's goldenrod *'' Solidago durangensis'' G.L.Nesom *'' Solidago elongata'' Nutt. – West Coast Canada goldenrod, Cascade Canada goldenrod *'' Solidago erecta'' Nutt. – showy goldenrod, slender goldenrod *'' Solidago ericamerioides'' G.L.Nesom *'' Solidago faucibus'' Wieboldt – gorge goldenrod *'' Solidago fistulosa'' P.Mill. – pine-barren goldenrod *'' Solidago flexicaulis'' L. – zigzag goldenrod, broadleaf goldenrod *'' Solidago gattingeri'' Chapman – Gattinger's goldenrod *''
Solidago gigantea ''Solidago gigantea'' is a North American plant species in the family Asteraceae. Its common names include tall goldenrod and giant goldenrod, among others. Goldenrod is the state flower of Kentucky, and ''Solidago gigantea'' is the state flower ...
'' Ait. – giant goldenrod, tall goldenrod, early goldenrod, smooth goldenrod *'' Solidago glabra'' Desf. *'' Solidago glomerata'' Michx. – clustered goldenrod, skunk goldenrod *'' Solidago guiradonis'' A.Gray – Guirado's goldenrod *'' Solidago gypsophila'' G.L.Nesom *'' Solidago hintoniorum'' G.L.Nesom *''
Solidago hispida ''Solidago hispida'', the hairy goldenrod, is North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Its native range extends from Newfoundland west to Saskatchewan, and south as far as Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Georgia. ''Solidago ...
'' Muhl. ex Willd. – hairy goldenrod *'' Solidago houghtonii'' Torr. & A.Gray ex A.Gray – Houghton's goldenrod *'' Solidago humilis'' Mill. *'' Solidago inornata'' Lunell *'' Solidago juliae'' G.L.Nesom – Julia's goldenrod *'' Solidago juncea'' Ait. – early goldenrod *'' Solidago kralii'' Semple – Kral's goldenrod *'' Solidago kuhistanica'' Juz. *'' Solidago kurilensis'' Juz. *'' Solidago lancifolia'' Torr. & A.Gray – lance-leaf goldenrod *'' Solidago latissimifolia'' P.Mill. – Elliott's goldenrod *'' Solidago leavenworthii'' Torr. & A.Gray – Leavenworth's goldenrod *'' Solidago leiocarpa'' DC. in DC. &. A.DC. – Cutler's alpine goldenrod *'' Solidago lepida'' DC. – western Canada goldenrod *'' Solidago ludoviciana'' (Gray) Small – Louisiana goldenrod *''
Solidago macrophylla ''Solidago macrophylla'', the largeleaf goldenrod or large-leaved goldenrod, is North American species of herbaceous perennial plants of the family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern and central Canada (from Ontario to Newfoundland & Labrador) a ...
'' Pursh – largeleaf goldenrod *'' Solidago macvaughii'' G.L.Nesom *'' Solidago microglossa'' DC. *'' Solidago minutissima'' (Makino) Kitam. *'' Solidago missouriensis'' Nutt. – Missouri goldenrod, prairie goldenrod, Tolmie's goldenrod *'' Solidago mollis'' Bartl. – velvety goldenrod, soft goldenrod, woolly goldenrod *'' Solidago multiradiata'' Ait. – Rocky Mountain goldenrod, alpine goldenrod, northern goldenrod, manyray goldenrod *'' Solidago nana'' Nutt. – baby goldenrod, dwarf goldenrod, gray goldenrod *'' Solidago nemoralis'' Ait. – gray goldenrod, dyersweed goldenrod, old-field goldenrod *'' Solidago nitida'' Torr. & A.Gray – shiny goldenrod *''
Solidago odora '' Solidago odora'', the sweet goldenrod, anisescented goldenrod or fragrant goldenrod, is a North American species of goldenrod within the family Asteraceae. The plant is native to the United States and Mexico, found in every coastal state from ...
'' Ait. – anise-scented goldenrod, sweet goldenrod, fragrant goldenrod *'' Solidago ohioensis'' Riddell – Ohio goldenrod *'' Solidago orientalis'' G.L.Nesom *'' Solidago ouachitensis'' C.E.S.Taylor & R.J.Taylor – Ouachita Mountains goldenrod *'' Solidago ovata'' Friesner *'' Solidago pacifica'' Juzepczuk *'' Solidago paniculata'' DC. *'' Solidago patagonica'' Phil. *'' Solidago patula'' Muhl. ex Willd. – roundleaf goldenrod, roughleaf goldenrod *'' Solidago petiolaris'' Ait. – downy ragged goldenrod *'' Solidago perornata'' Lunell *'' Solidago pilosa'' Mill. *'' Solidago pinetorum'' Small – Small's goldenrod *'' Solidago plumosa'' Small – plumed goldenrod, plumose goldenrod, Yadkin River goldenrod *'' Solidago pringlei'' Fernald *'' Solidago procera'' Aiton *'' Solidago ptarmicoides'' (Torr. & A.Gray) B.Boivin – white flat-top goldenrod, upland white aster *'' Solidago puberula'' Nutt. – downy goldenrod *'' Solidago pulchra'' Small – Carolina goldenrod *'' Solidago radula'' Nutt. – western rough goldenrod *'' Solidago riddellii'' Frank ex Riddell – Riddell's goldenrod *''
Solidago rigida ''Solidago rigida'', known by the common names stiff goldenrod and stiff-leaved goldenrod, is a North American plant species in the family Asteraceae. It has a widespread distribution in Canada and the United States, where it is found primarily e ...
'' L. – rigid goldenrod, stiff-leaf goldenrod *'' Solidago roanensis'' Porter – Roan Mountain goldenrod *''
Solidago rugosa ''Solidago rugosa'', commonly called the wrinkleleaf goldenrod or rough-stemmed goldenrod, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to North America, where it is widespread across eastern and central Canada (from New ...
'' P.Mill. – wrinkleleaf goldenrod, rough-stemmed goldenrod *'' Solidago rupestris'' Raf. – rock goldenrod *'' Solidago satanica'' Lunell *''
Solidago sciaphila ''Solidago sciaphilia'' is known as shadowy goldenrod or cliff goldenrod. The species is endemic to bluffs along the Mississippi River in southern Minnesota, and the driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin, northern Iowa and Illinois. Througho ...
'' Steele – shadowy goldenrod *'' Solidago sempervirens'' L. – seaside goldenrod, salt-marsh goldenrod *'' Solidago serotina'' Retz. *'' Solidago shortii'' Torr. & A.Gray – Short's goldenrod *'' Solidago simplex'' Kunth : Mt. Albert goldenrod, sticky goldenrod *'' Solidago spathulata'' DC. – coast goldenrod *''
Solidago speciosa ''Solidago speciosa'', the showy goldenrod, is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It grows in the province of Ontario in central Canada, as well as in the eastern and central United States (from the Atlantic c ...
'' Nutt. – showy goldenrod, noble goldenrod *'' Solidago spectabilis'' (D.C.Eat.) A.Gray – Nevada goldenrod, basin goldenrod *'' Solidago sphacelata'' Raf. – autumn goldenrod, false goldenrod *'' Solidago spithamaea'' M.A.Curtis – Blue Ridge goldenrod, skunk goldenrod *'' Solidago spiraeifolia'' Fisch. ex Herder *'' Solidago squarrosa'' Nutt. – stout goldenrod *'' Solidago stricta'' Ait. – wand goldenrod, willow-leaf goldenrod *'' Solidago tarda'' Mack. – Atlantic goldenrod *'' Solidago tortifolia'' Ell. – twistleaf goldenrod *'' Solidago uliginosa'' Nutt. – bog goldenrod, fall goldenrod *'' Solidago ulmifolia'' Muhl. ex Willd. – elmleaf goldenrod *'' Solidago velutina'' DC. – threenerve goldenrod, velvety goldenrod *'' Solidago verna'' M.A.Curtis – springflowering goldenrod *'' Solidago villosicarpa'' LeBlond – glandular wand goldenrod, hairy-seed goldenrod *''
Solidago virgaurea ''Solidago virgaurea'', the European goldenrod or woundwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant of the family Asteraceae. It is widespread across most of Europe as well as North Africa and northern, central, and southwestern Asia (China, Russia, ...
'' L. – European goldenrod *'' Solidago vossii'' J.S.Pringle & Laureto – Voss's goldenrod *'' Solidago wrightii'' A.Gray – Wright's goldenrod *'' Solidago yokusaiana'' Makino


Natural hybrids

*''Solidago'' × ''asperula'' Desf. (''S. rugosa'' × ''S. sempervirens'') *''Solidago'' × ''beaudryi'' Boivin (''S. rugosa'' × ''S. uliginosa'') *''Solidago'' × ''calcicola'' (Fernald) Fernald – limestone goldenrod *''Solidago'' × ''erskinei'' Boivin (''S. canadensis'' × ''S. sempervirens'') *''Solidago'' × ''niederederi'' Khek (''S. canadensis'' × ''S. virgaurea'') *''Solidago'' × ''ovata'' Friesner (''S. sphacelata'' × ''S. ulmifolia'') *''Solidago'' × ''ulmicaesia'' Friesner (''S. caesia'' × ''S. ulmifolia'')


Formerly included

Numerous species formerly considered members of ''Solidago'' are now regarded as better suited to other genera, including '' Brintonia,
Duhaldea ''Duhaldea'' is a genus of Asian flowering plants in the daisy family The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly re ...
, Euthamia, Gundlachia,
Inula ''Inula'' is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe, Asia and Africa. They may be annuals, herbaceous perennials or subshrubs that vary greatly in size, from small species a few centimeter ...
, Jacobaea, Leptostelma,
Olearia ''Olearia'', most commonly known as daisy-bush, is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Asteraceae, the largest of the flowering plant families in the world. Olearia are found in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand. The genus i ...
, Psiadia,
Senecio ''Senecio'' is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that includes ragworts and groundsels. Variously circumscribed taxonomically, the genus ''Senecio'' is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. Description Mor ...
, Sphagneticola,
Symphyotrichum ''Symphyotrichum'' () is a genus of over 100 species and naturally occurring hybrids of herbaceous annual and perennial plants in the composite family Asteraceae, most which were formerly treated within the genus ''Aster''. The majority are end ...
, Trixis,'' and '' Xylothamia''.


References


External links

* *
Goldenrod identification.
Andy's Northern Ontario Wildflowers.
Goldenrods Group.
Ontario Wildflowers.

Astereae Lab. University of Waterloo (Canada). {{Taxonbar, from=Q212939 Asteraceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Plant dyes