Solidago
(from solido, to join or make whole; alluding to reputed vulnerary qualities). Golden Rod. SYN. Doria. ORD. Compositae. A large genus (about eighty species) of mostly hardy, perennial herbs, rarely shrubby at base; they are nearly all North American, one or two being found in South America, one in temperate Asia and Europe, and one in the Azores. Flower-heads usually yellow, small, in racemes or clusters; involucre oblong or narrowly-campanulate, the bracts appressed, many-seriate; ray florets ligulate, spreading, or rarely small and erect; achenes sub-terete or angled. Leaves alternate, entire or often toothed. Owing to the coarse habit of these plants, and the manner in which they impoverish the soil, they are mostly confined to shrubberies and old-fashioned borders, where their bright yellow flowers contrast well with Michaelmas Daisies. Of the large number of species introduced, those described below are probably the best; all are North American, S. Virgaurea being also found in Britain. Any common soil is suitable; and propagation may be readily effected by divisions.
S. altissima (very tall). A synonym of S. rugosa.
S. canadensis (Canadian). fl.-heads small; ray florets very short; panicle ample, crowded. August. l. lanceolate, acuminate, sharply serrated (sometimes almost entire), more or less pubescent beneath and rough above. Stem roughly hairy. h. 3ft. to 6ft. 1648.
S. Drummondii (Drummond's).* fl.-heads small; rays four or five, short; involucral scales oblong, obtuse; racemes short, panicled. Summer. l. broadly ovate or oval, somewhat triple-ribbed, coarsely and sharply serrated, some of them almost entire, beneath (as well as the stem) minutely velvety-pubescent. Stem 1ft. to 3ft. high. 1885. (B. M. 6805.) S. elliptica axilliflora (elliptic-leaved, axillary-flowered). fl-heads rather large, in short, or somewhat elongated and racemi-form, erect or spreading clusters, which are mostly axillary and shorter than the leaves. l. oval to broadly lanceolate. S. fragrans (of Willdenow) is a narrow-leaved form. S. fragrans (fragrant), of gardens. A synonym of S. serotina. S. fragrans (fragrant), of Willdenow. A form of S. elliptica axilliflora. S. lanceolata (lanceolate-leaved).* fl.-heads obconical, mostly sessile, in dense clusters; ray florets fifteen to twenty. September. l. linear-lanceolate, entire, roughish above, pubescent on the veins beneath. Stem pubescent above, corymbose. h. 2ft. to 3ft. 1758. (B. M. 2546.) SYN. Euthamia graminifolia.
S. multiradiata (many-rayed). fl.-heads large, in a dense, thyr-soid or corymbose raceme; involucral scales narrow, nearly glabrous; ray florets eight to twelve. July. l. ciliated, oblong-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, tapering to the base. Stem villous-pubescent, simple, or rarely branched at the summit. 1776.
S. odora (odorous). fl.-heads, ray florets three or four, rather large; racemes spreading, in a small, one-sided panicle. July. l. linear-lanceolate, entire, thickish, shining, pellucid-dotted. Stem slender, 2ft. to 3ft. high, often reclined. 1699. The crushed leaves yield a pleasant, anisate odour. S. patula (spreading). fl.-heads, involucral scales oblong; ray florets six or seven; peduncles scabrous-pubescent; racemes mostly short and crowded on the elongated, somewhat leafy branches, at length spreading or recurved. August and September. l. large, elliptic, acute, serrated, smooth and glabrous beneath. h. 2ft. 1805.
S. rigida (rigid). fl.-heads large, in a compound corymb terminating the simple stem, not at all racemose; ray florets seven to ten. September. l. oval or oblong, copiously feather-veined, thick and rigid; upper ones closely sessile by a broad base, slightly serrated, the uppermost ones entire. Stem stout, 3ft. to 5ft. high, very leafy. 1710.
S. rugosa (wrinkled). fl.-heads small; involucral scales linear; ray florets six to nine; racemes panicled, spreading. August and September. l. ovate-lanceolate, elliptical, or oblong, often thickish and very rugose, coarsely and sharply serrated. Stem 2ft. to 7ft. high, roughly hairy. 1686. SYN. S. altissima.
S. sempervirens (evergreen). fl.-heads showy; ray florets golden, eight to ten; racemes short, in an open or contracted panicle. September. l. fleshy, very smooth, entire, lanceolate, slightly clasping, or the lower ones lanceolate-oblong, obscurely triple-nerved. Stem smooth and stout, 1ft. to 6ft. high. 1699 S. serotina (late). fl.-heads, ray florets short; achenes at length nearly glabrous; peduncles roughish-pubescent; panicle pyramidal, of numerous recurved racemes. August to October. l lanceolate, acuminate, serrated, glabrous except on the veins beneath, the margins and usually the upper surface scabrous. Stem often glaucous. h. 3ft. 1758. SYN. S. fragrans (of gardens).
S. speciosa (showy).* fl.-heads rather large, somewhat crowded in numerous erect racemes, forming an ample, pyramidal or thyrsiform panicle; ray florets about five, ample. October. l. thickish, rough, with smooth margins, oval or ovate, slightly serrated; lower ones 4in. to 6in. long (in the larger forms), contracted into a margined petiole; uppermost ones oblong-lanceolate. Stem stout, smooth, 3ft. to 6ft. high. 1817. A handsome species. S. Virgaurea. Common Golden Rod. fl.-heads crowded; ray florets ten to twelve, spreading. July to September. l. linear-or lanceolate-oblong, 1in. to 4in. long, obscurely toothed, obtuse or acute. Stem erect, sparingly branched. h. 4in. to 2ft. North America, Europe (Britain), &c. (Sy. En. B. 778.) The variety cambrica (Sy. En. B. 779) is a dwarf form, found on rocky mountain ledges.