Solidago nemoralis Aiton
Gray goldenrod, field goldenrod
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Asteridae A large class that encompasses asters
Order Asterales Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family Asteraceae The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus Solidago From Latin solido, “to make whole or heal,” because it was believed these species had healing properties
Species nemoralis "Pertaining to woods or groves" (from Stearn's Botanical Latin )
About plant names...
Gray or field goldenrod is a native of North America. For a comparison chart of some of the varieties of goldenrods, see
Solidago .
Identification: Plants are 6-30″ (15-76 cm) tall, smaller than many
goldenrods. The main stem
is reddish or gray-green, with short grayish-white hairs. Leaves are gray-green, alternate, lance-like ("lanceolate ")
or sometimes oval, up to 4″ (10 cm) × ¾″ (1.9 cm),
becoming smaller higher on the stem. They are serrated or sometimes smooth. When the serrations are
present, they are "crenate-serrate "—sometimes rounded, sometimes sharp-edged. At the base of
each leaf there are often two side-pointing smaller leaflets ("wings").
Fine hairs on the leaves make
them feel somewhat rough, like fine sandpaper. Flowerheads may be narrow, or wider at the base; they are
3-10″ (7.6-25 cm) long × 1-4″ (2.5-10 cm) wide. Individual flowers are less than ¼″ (6.3 mm) around, with 4-9 ray
flowers and 3-10 disk florets.
Edibility: Not edible.
Online References:
Missouriplants.com
Illinois Wildflowers
The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site
Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses
References:
Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide , Little, Brown and Company, 1977 , p. p. 446
Peterson, Roger Tory, McKenny, Margaret, Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers—Northeastern and North Central North America , Houghton Mifflin, 1968 , p. 194
8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
8/30/2014 · New Mexico · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)
8/30/2012 · Orange Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)
8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
8/30/2012 · Orange Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm)
8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
Solidago nemoralis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 11 Jul 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 15 × 10″ (39 × 26 cm) ID is uncertain
8/30/2014 · New Mexico · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)
8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm)
8/22/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Area, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
8/30/2012 · Orange Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
8/30/2012 · Orange Trail, Willard Brook State Park, Townsend, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 14 cm)
9/14/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 15 cm) ID is uncertain
10/24/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt ID is uncertain
Range:
About this map...
Home   
Species