Leaves: basal usually present (rosettes) at flowering; proximalmost cauline usually present at flowering, petiolate, largest, usually 1 prominent nerve; petioles of basal and proximalmost cauline leaves sheathing stems. Heads in thyrsiform-paniculiform arrays, wand- to club-shaped, sometimes cone-shaped secund, proximal branches arching. Phyllaries not striate, eglandular. Pappus bristles usually in 2, rarely 3 series (shorter, outer setiform scales rarely present, inner weakly clavate).

Distribution

North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, introduced to Atlantic Islands (Azores).

Discussion

Species 5 (4 in the flora).

Plants of subsect. Maritimae are found in bogs and marshes.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Solidago pulchra, Solidago sempervirens, Solidago stricta, Solidago uliginosa

Key

1	Distal cauline leaves numerous, large, thick to somewhat fleshy; heads in narrowly to broadly cone-shaped secund arrays, branches secund, proximal arching; maritime coast, Newfoundland to Texas, introduced inland to brackish water habitats, Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario	Solidago sempervirens
1	Distal cauline leaves fewer or leaves much reduced, not fleshy to somewhat fleshy; heads in thyrsiform or wand-shaped, sometimes secund arrays, proximal branches usually short, ascending, rarely some much elongated; bogs and marshes, not maritime	> 2
2	Heads 5–25; rays 8–13; discs 20–25; coastal plain bogs, North Carolina, South Carolina	Solidago pulchra
2	Heads (15–)25–250+; rays 1–8; discs 6–12; widely distributed	> 3
3	Cauline leaves appressed to ascending, usually 10–20 mm proximal to arrays, quickly reduced distally; arrays usually narrow, elongate thyrsiform, or with a few arching elongate proximal branches, sometimes distally secund or mostly secund in archingstems; coastal plain, North Carolina to Texas, Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)	Solidago stricta
3	Cauline leaves gradually reduced distally, ascending to spreading, usually longer than 20 mm into arrays or to just proximal; arrays narrowly to broadly thyrsiform, not secund, or if pyramidal and secund, then proximal spreading branches not greatly elongate; Newfoundland to n Ontario, s to Georgia and Alabama (in south,mountains and higher piedmont)	Solidago uliginosa