Solidago rigida (Stiff Goldenrod) - photos and description
Inflorescence flat-topped.
Stem leaf in above photo
Lower stem leaf in above photo
Basal leaf in above photo
General: Perennials with stems arising from a branching caudex. Stems very stiff, puberulent - rough hairy.
Flowers: Inflorescence is a flat-topped corymb of small yellow flowers, corymb measured to 5 cm across, and 4 cm high.
Leaves: Leaves are grey-green in colour, puberulent, stiff and velvety to the touch. Leaves are entire. Basal and lower leaves are stalked, elliptical in shape, leaf blade measured at 12 cm long and 3cm wide. Stem leaves are alternate, stalkless, oval to elliptical, length to 5 cm, width 2 cm.
Height: Height listed in Budd's Flora to 40 cm, and to 80 cm in Flora of Alberta, I measured plants to 91 cm tall.
Habitat: Prairies and edges of woodlands.
Abundance: Common.
Origin: Native.
How to identify this species: Stem and leaves are stiff and rough-hairy, basal leaves have long petioles, inflorescence is flat-topped.
When and where photographed: Took the above photos August 12th, meadow in aspen woods, about 25 km east of Regina, SK, and August 20th in the Qu'Appelle Valley, about 30 km north of our home in Regina, SK.