Spathulata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this species. 

	plants generally taller than 0.5-2.0 dm
	stems mostly glabrous below the inflorescence; NOT [stems mostly pubescent or puberulent]
	leaves glabrous; NOT [leaves pubescent or puberulent]
	leaves lanceolate; NOT [leaves obovate]
	leaves more than 4 times as long as wide; NOT [leaves 2.5-3 times as long as wide]
	at least the lower leaves petioled; NOT [leaves subsessile] (BF)
	lower leaves NOT ovate, or if so, not long-petioled; NOT [lower leaves ovate, with the petiole as long as the blade] (BF)
	petiole of the basal leaves NOT conspicuously ciliate
	inflorescence a panicle or spike; NOT [inflorescence corymbose, with the branches slanting upward, forming a rounded or flat-topped inflorescence] (BF)
	inflorescence racemose, with branches ascending along the stem; NOT [inflorescence a panicle with more or less spreading or arching branches] (BF)
	heads NOT corymbose, usually racemose, the inflorescence cylindrical to narrowly oval, or paniculate, with spreading or arching branches; NOT [heads corymbose, the inflorescence rounded or flat-topped] (FOA)
	inflorescence cylindrical; NOT [inflorescence more or less oval] (BF)
	inflorescence more or less cylindrical or narrowly oval (BF)
	inflorescence more or less interrupted
	branches of the inflorescence shorter than or as long as the subtending stem leaves; NOT [branches of the inflorescence much longer than the subtending stem leaves]
	heads often secund
	heads glutinous
	flowers yellow; NOT [flowers white or cream]

Solidago: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.

	plants with fibrous roots; NOT [plants with a taproot]
	juice watery; NOT [plants with a milky or sticky sap]
	leaves alternate or basal; NOT [leaves opposite]
	leaves simple, NOT pinnatifid or divided
	leaves NEVER spinescent
	heads small and numerous, in terminal or axillary clusters; NOT [heads usually solitary at ends of branches]
	involucral bracts in 2 or more series; NOT [involucral bracts usually one series]
	involucral bracts well-imbricated; NOT [involucral bracts not or scarcely imbricated]
	receptacle naked
	flower heads with florets both tubular and ray; NOT [flower heads with all florets tubular]
	ray florets pistillate or neuter; NOT [ray florets perfect]
	ray florets yellow; NOT [ray florets usually pink, purple, blue, or white]
	stamens united to form a tube around the pistil
	pappus wholly or partly of capillary bristles, sometimes plumose; NOT [pappus chaffy, or of scales, or of firm awns, or a crown, or none]
	pappus single, bristles sometimes unequal but not distinctly divided into an inner and outer series of two lengths; NOT [pappus double, bristles of the outer series inconspicuous, distinctly shorter than the inner]