Showy Goldenrod, Solidago
speciosa
Asteraceae or Sunflower Family
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Moderately tall plant, 2 to 6 feet tall. Inflorescence
widely branching.
Each branch contains small flower heads with a few central disc
flowers and 5 to 8 radiating ray flowers, all golden yellow.
Leaves egg-shaped, weakly toothed, hairless or nearly so.
Blooms in late summer to autumn. Native plant of open fields and roadsides. In Wildwood occasional in open spaces, especially along the bikeway and Wildwood Drive. Goldenrods are a difficult group to identify, and there are many similar species. A moderately tall goldenrod in a sunny place with a branching inflorescence is likely this species. Tall goldenrod (S. altissima) also occurs in open areas. It is tall, with narrow leaves and an inflorescence made of curved one-sided clusters. |
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