gray goldenrod

(Solidago nemoralis ssp. nemoralis)

Conservation Status

 

No image available

 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Gray goldenrod (ssp. nemoralis) is one of the smallest goldenrods. It is an erect, perennial forb that rises on 1 to 10 aerial stems, but usually no more than 6, from a short-branched, woody, stem (caudex).

The aerial stems are erect and covered with short grayish or whitish, ascending or appressed hairs, causing the stem to appear grayish.

Basal and lower stem leaves are inversely lance-shaped (oblanceolate) or inversely egg-shaped with the attachment at the narrow end. They are ¾ to 3¾ long, ¼ to wide and taper near the base to long, winged leaf stalks. They taper near the tip to a point with straight sides along the tip. The margins usually have rounded teeth. The upper surface is covered with fine, grayish or whitish hairs. The midvein is conspicuous, the lateral veins are feather-like.

Stem leaves are alternate. Middle and upper stem leaves are attached to the stem without a stalk. They are linear-oblanceolate, to 1¾ long, to ¼ wide, becoming gradually smaller as they ascend the stem. The margins are untoothed. There are usually winged leaflets at the axils of the upper leaves.

The inflorescence is a 4 to 10 long array. It is shaped like a wand, wider in the middle, and usually arching downward 90° to 180°. It has 10 to 300 flower heads appearing on one side.

The flowers are about ¼ across with 5 to 11 yellow ray florets 3 to 10 yellow disk florets. The whorl of bracts at the base of the flower head is no more than 1 6 wide.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

6 to 30

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Yellow ray florets, yellow disk florets

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Elm-leaved goldenrod (Solidago ulmifolia) is a taller, more robust plant. It has an erect stem with a few spreading flowering branches at the top. The stem and leaves are mostly hairless. The flower branches are much narrower than the flower cluster of gray goldenrod. The flowers have 3 to 5 minute rays.

Gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis var. decemflora) has basal leaves that are often linear-oblanceolate. The margins usually do not have rounded teeth. The whorl of bracts at the base of the flower head is from a little more than 1 6 to almost ¼ wide.

Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula) is a taller, more robust plant. The stem and leaves are mostly hairless. The flowering spike has flowers on all sides of the central stem, usually on crowded, stiffly ascending branches. The flower has 6 to 8 ray florets and 7 to 9 disk florets.

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry. Woods, prairies, and open places. Sandy soil.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

August to October

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 7, 29, 30.

 
  4/27/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

 

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Asteranae  
 

Order

Asterales (sunflowers, bellflowers, fanflowers, and allies)  
 

Family

Asteraceae (sunflowers, daisies, asters, and allies)  
  Subfamily Asteroideae  
  Supertribe Asterodae  
  Tribe Astereae (asters and allies)  
  Subtribe Solidagininae  
  Genus Solidago (goldenrods)  
  Subgenus Nemorales  
  Species Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

 

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Solidago nemoralis ssp. haleana

Solidago nemoralis var. haleana

Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

dyer’s-weed goldenrod

dyersweed goldenrod

field goldenrod

gray goldenrod

gray-stem goldenrod

gray-stemmed goldenrod

old field goldenrod

old-field goldenrod

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Axil

The upper angle where the leaf stalk meets the stem.

 

Caudex

A short, sometimes woody, persistent stem, at or below ground level, from which aerial stems arise each year.

 

Linear

Long, straight, and narrow, with more or less parallel sides, like a blade of grass.

 

Oblanceolate

Reverse lanceolate; much longer than wide, thickest toward the tip, and gradually tapering toward the base.

 

Winged leaf stalk

A leaf-like or membrane-like extension along both sides of the leaf stalk.

 
 
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