| "Solidago" is from the Latin "solidus" meaning "whole" or "solid", referring to the plant's supposed ability to heal. Linnaeus named this genus in 1753. "Goldenrod" is a common name applied to all Solidagos. |
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| "Solidago" is from the Latin "solidus" meaning "whole" or "solid", referring to the plant's supposed ability to heal. Linnaeus named this genus in 1753. "Goldenrod" is a common name applied to all Solidagos. |
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Solidago velutina. Synonym: Solidago sparsiflora. (Velvet Goldenrod) Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Foothills, montane, subalpine.
Meadows, woodland openings. Summer, fall. Solidago velutina is a common late summer and fall golden glow. In the Four Corners area it grows singly in open woods or, as shown here, in diffuse groupings from rhizomes. Flower heads are often somewhat pyramidal but with arching branches and secund flowers, i.e., borne on one side of the stem. Linnaeus named this species from a Canadian specimen in 1753. "Velutina" is Latin for "velvety", but the plants in our area have no abundance of hairs that could merit calling them "velvety". Hairs are typically minute and stiff. Those on the stems are often numerous. Leaf surfaces are glabrous or with few hairs. The plant has endured numerous name changes and the precise name is still not agreed on by authors of various floras. In his 2001 third edition of Colorado Flora, William Weber indicates that S. velutina is quite similar to S. canadensis and that both exist in Colorado. In the 4th edition of Colorado Flora, S. canadensis is referred to in relation to S. altissima. Weber says, "According to the Flora of North America, S. canadensis is not native in Colorado". The Flora of the Four Corners Region, the Flora of North America, and the Synthesis agree in calling this species, Solidago velutina. Ackerfield indicates that both S. velutina and S. canadensis exist in Colorado. The range of S. velutina is shown on the map below. See http://bonap.net/TDC/ for the range of S. canadensis. |
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Solidago velutina. Synonym: Solidago sparsiflora. (Velvet Goldenrod) Asteraceae (Sunflower Family) Foothills, montane, subalpine.
Meadows, woodland openings. Summer, fall. Flowers are often in arching arrays and secund, i.e., all bent to one side of the stem. Phyllaries are in 3-5 series, strongly unequal in length, concave, and vary from light green to straw-colored. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Solidago velutina |
Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state
Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Eradicated
Questionable presence