Leaves: basal often present in rosettes at flowering, proximalmost cauline petiolate to attenuate-subpetiolate, sometimes present at flowering, largest; cauline sometimes 3-nerved (with two prominent lateral nerves), distal usually subtending fascicles of small linear leaves of lateral branches, two usually much larger than others. Heads in thyrsiform-paniculiform arrays, wand- to club-shaped or sometimes secund cone-shaped, proximal branches ascending to spreading. Phyllaries not striate, glabrous, eglandular. Pappus bristles usually in 2 series (inner weakly, if at all, clavate).

Distribution

North America, n Mexico.

Discussion

Species 7 (7 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Solidago confinis, Solidago gattingeri, Solidago guiradonis, Solidago juncea, Solidago missouriensis, Solidago pinetorum, Solidago spectabilis

Key

1	Arrays club-shaped to subracemiform; leaves not 3-nerved, sometimes fleshy and waxy; caudices short-branched; usually boggy, marshy ground or stream margins	> 2
1	Arrays pyramidal to rhombic or obpyramidal, never racemiform; leaves waxy, not fleshy, sometimes 3-nerved; caudices short to long rhizomatous	> 4
2	Phyllaries narrowly ovate to lanceolate, margins flat, obtuse to acuminate; rays usually 8–12; boggy or marshy grounds, alkaline meadows and hot springs, Nevada and adjacent states	Solidago spectabilis
2	Phyllaries narrowly linear-triangular, margins revolute distally, sharply acute; rays usually 5–10; wetter areas, along streams, c, s California into Mexico	> 3
3	Leaf lengths usually less than 10 times widths; arrays usually paniculiform-thyrsiform; c, s California	Solidago confinis
3	Leaf lengths usually 10+ times longer widths; arrays narrowly paniculiform or racemiform; (along streams) vicinity of San Carlos and San Benito peaks, San Benitoand Fresno counties, California	Solidago guiradonis
4	Stems from elongated creeping rhizomes; proximal and mid stem leaves often 3-nerved; prairies and prairielike habitats, mostly w of Mississippi River into Rocky Mountains	Solidago missouriensis
4	Stems from short thick rhizomes or caudices; proximal and mid stem leaves multinerved, rarely 3-nerved; fields, disturbed areas, glades in e Canada and United States	> 5
5	Rays mostly 7–13; disc florets mostly 8–12; widely distributed, Nova Scotia to Manitoba, s to Alabama and Arkansas	Solidago juncea
5	Rays mostly 3–8; disc florets mostly 3–9	> 6
6	Distal leaves ± spreading or reflexed, bearing axillary fascicles of reduced leaves; piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain; North Carolina, adjacent South Carolina, se Virginia	Solidago pinetorum
6	Distal leaves closely ascending or appressed, usually without axillary fascicles; cedar barrens, limestone ledges, and glades; Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee	Solidago gattingeri