Solidago (solidago)

[NL. (Vaillant, 1720), Solidago important near relative, by the presence of rays. The species have in general a very characteristic habit, being perennial herbs, usually with strictly erect unbranched stems, which bear numerous entire or serrate alternate se ile narrow stem-leaves and broader root-leaves, which taper into margined petioles. Numerous intermediate forms render many species difficult to distinguish. In the original species, S. Virgaurea, the golden-yellow flowers are ma ed in small clusters which form an elongated or interrupted spike, whence the popular name goldenrod. The typical inflorescence, however, is a terminal pyramidal panicle of determinate development, composed of numerous recurving and scorpioid one-sided racemes, best seen in S. Can a dens is and S. rugosa. In other species the flowers form a dense thyrsus of straight and terete crowded racemes, as S. speciosa, of the Atlantic and interior United States. A few others from the Ohio and Mi i ippi valleys, as S. rigid a, produce nearly level-topped cymes. Four other cymose species were formerly separated as a genus, Euthamia (Nuttall, 1818), distinguished by lack of scorpioid branchlets and by their linear entire one to five-nerved leaves, including the widely distributed species S. lanceolata and S. Carol in i an a (S. tenuifolia ), and connecting with S. pauciflosculosa, of the Southern States and the Bahamas, formerly separated as a genus, Chrysoта (Nuttall, 1840), because of its shrubby stem and few-flowered heads with one to three rays. Several other species are slightly aberrant: S. multi radiata, of the Rocky Mountains, sometimes has twelve rays, others usually five; S. disco idea, a racemose Gulf species, is wholly without rays and has a purplish pappus; this, with S. squarrosa of northern rocks and S. petiolar is of southern pine-barrens, varies also in the spreading tips of the involucral bracts. S. bi color is remarkable for its cream-colored flowers. S. verna, of pine-woods near Wilmington, North Carolina, blooms in May; S. uliginosa, of northern peat-bogs, in July; S. juncea and S. elliptic a in August; and S. rugosa, S. Can a dens is, and most others mainly in September; S. nemoral is and S. cæ 2 A Goldenrod ( Solidago nemoral is). 1. The upper part of the stem with the inflorescence. 2. The lower part of the stem, showing a stolon. sia continue well into October. The genus is one of the most characteristic of the United States, numerous both in species and in individuals, and not entirely wanting in any region. In the northern and central States it gives to the landscape much of its beauty, and is an important element of the prevailing yellow of autumn. There are nearly 100 species, of which 80, besides more than 30 important varieties, are natives of the United States, and the others are nearly all American, 9 of them occurring in Mexico, 2, 3, or 5 in South America (3 in southern Brazil, 2 in Uruguay, and 1 in Chili), and 1 in Hayti. Only 2 species are natives of the Old World, S. littoral is , limited to the Tuscan and Ligurian coast, and S. Virgaurea , which extends from Mount Parna us north and west throughout Europe and into Siberia, Alaska, New York, and New England, in many widely differing varieties. Those of the United States are all, with 5 exceptions, confined to them and to British America (into which 32 extend), and are mainly natives of the Atlantic and central States. Numerous isolated species are southern; the northern are mostly of wider distribution and more abundant in individuals; 11 species are mainly confined to the high northern, 12 to the northeastern, 24 to the southern, 8 to the southwestern, 10 to the Pacific States; 6 belong to the Mi i ippi valley, of which S. Mi ouri ens is is the only one widely distributed; 2 species, S. odor a and S. sempervirens , extend throughout the Atlantic coast from Canada to Mexico, and the latter, the salt marsh goldenrod, reappears at the Azores and at San Francisco. Forty-two species occur in the northeast quarter of the United States, 53 in the Southern States, and about 14 among the Rocky Mountains. S. Can a dens is, the most numerous and most typical species, is also the one most widely diffused through the United States, followed next by S. nemoral is and S. rugosa. The species of this genus range from beyond 66° N. latitude to the city of Mexico, and from alpine summits to the sea-level; several are mostly confined to swamps, as S. patula , and a few to woodland borders, as S. cæsia and S. bicolor , but most are plants of dry open soil, especially S. nemoral is. In parts of the Atlantic coast the name goldenrod is locally confined to S. odor a , the sweet goldenrod of authors, which contains in its dotted leaves an aromatic and stimulating volatile oil of an anisate odor and pale greenish-yellow color; it is also carminative and diaphoretic, and its infusion is used to relieve spasmodic pains and nausea; its dried flowers and leaves have been employed as a beverage, under the name of Blue - Mountain tea. S. Virgaurea , the goldenrod of Europe, contains an astringent and tonic principle, and was long in esteem for healing wounds, Solidago herbalists of two and three centuries ago pronouncing it "one of the most noble wound-herbs," and prescribing "a tea of the young leaves, green or dry." It was also once in repute in Europe as a dye, and a variety of S. nemoral is is locally called dyer's - weed in America. S. Can a dens is and others have been popularly known as yellow - weed, and S. rugosa as bitterweed. S. rigid a is also a reputed astringent. The goldenrod has been recommended by many as the national emblem of the United States. 2. [l. c.] A plant of this genus; goldenrod.