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Practical ecological knowledge for the temperate reader. |
Family: Asteraceae (Aster family) [E-flora]
"Perennial herb from woody caudex or rhizome, branched distally. Leaf: alternate, often sessile, resinous or not. Inflorescence: heads radiate, few to many, in ± flat-topped to panicle-like, often ± 1-sided clusters; involucre cylindric to bell-shaped; phyllaries generally ± graduated in 3–5 series, midrib generally ± swollen, translucent, tip flat or slightly swollen; receptacle slightly convex, honeycombed, ridges uneven, epaleate. Ray flower: few to many; ray yellow. Disk flower: few to many; corolla yellow, generally glabrous; anther tip narrowly triangular; style branches finely papillate, tips triangular. Fruit: obconic, compressed; pappus of 25–45 long-barbed bristles in 1 series.
± 100 species: especially North America (South America, Eurasia). (Greek: make-well, for purported medicinal value) [Semple & Cook 2006 FNANM 20:107–166]" [Jepson]
Introduction
"Solidago canadensis is a perennial, rhizomatous (clonal) species, lacking basal leaves or with basal leaves reduced and early deciduous. It is native to eastern North America, but is cultivated and introduced in western North America. This species was introduced to Europe in the 17th century, and is now invasive (Van Kleunan and Schmid 2003). It is now a significant invasive species in China." [E-flora]
"In 2010, this species was reassessed in the province by the BC Conservation Data Centre, and most BC specimens were annotated to other species. Only a handful of specimens were determined to be Solidago canadensis.. "A specimen from a ditch in Revelstoke has been annotated as S. canadensis var. hargeri by John Semple in 2009." (Lomer, pers. comm. 2012)." [E-flora]
"Solidago canadensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from a fibrous-rooted, creeping rhizome; stems erect, solitary, branched above, densely short-hairy above, 0.3-2 m tall." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Moist to mesic meadows, grasslands, shrublands, ditches, fields, roadsides, and forest openings in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; introduced in BC, N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to FL, TX and CA." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Exotic [E-flora]
"Weak potential for sensitization. Irrigation therapy is contraindicated in cases of oedema due to renal or heart disease. Care needed with chronic kidney disease [301]." [PFAF]
"Succeeds in any moderately fertile moisture retentive soil in sun or semi-shade[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A rather greedy plant, it is apt to impoverish the soil[1]. The flowers attract butterflies and moths[30]. The plant also attracts various beneficial insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies to the garden, these insects will help to control insect pests in the garden[201, 238]." [PFAF]
"Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on for their first winter in pots. Plant them out into their permanent positions in spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer." [PFAF]
Subtaxa Present in B.C.
References
"Solidago missouriensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from a creeping rhizome or sometimes a woody stem-base; stems erect, solitary to few, branched above, glabrous or sparingly hairy in the inflorescence, 20-90 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range: Dry grasslands, shrublands and open forests in the steppe and lower montane zones; infrequent in SC, SE and NE BC; E to ON and S to TN, TX and AZ." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
"Succeeds in any moderately fertile moisture retentive soil in sun or semi-shade[200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A rather greedy plant, it is apt to impoverish the soil[1]. The plant attracts various beneficial insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies to the garden, these insects will help to control insect pests in the garden[201, 238]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2]." [PFAF]
"Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle, and grow them on for their first winter in pots. Plant them out into their permanent positions in spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from a short rhizome or branching woody stem-base; stems erect, solitary, branched above, long-hairy, at least in the inflorescence, 5-50 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Mesic to dry meadows, fellfields, rocky slopes and forests in all vegetation zones; common throughout BC; amphiberingian, N to AK, YT, and NT, E to PQ, and S to NM, AZ, and CA." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
References
"Introduction The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia previously recognized Solidago spathulata and its three varieties as present in BC. However, this species has been renamed to Solidago simplex. Two varieties are now recognized in BC: Solidago simplex var. simplex and Solidago simplex var. nana. The latter is the alpine and sub-alpine taxon." [E-flora]
"General: Perennial herb from a woody stem-base or short, stout rhizome; stems erect, solitary, branched, glabrous or sometimes rough-hairy above, usually sticky above, 5-80 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Notes: Three often difficult to separate varieties occur in BC." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Mesic to dry meadows, rocky slopes and forests in all vegetation zones except the alpine zone; common throughout BC except the NW coast and Queen Charlotte Islands; N to AK, YT, and NT, E to PQ and NS, and S to VA, NM, AZ, and CA." [IFBC-E-flora]
Synonyms
References