Solidago nemoralis

           
Showy Goldenrod

G. F. Ledingham Herbarium
University of Regina

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Nemoralis: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this species. 
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plants mostly 1-4 dm tall (FOA)

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plants generally taller than 0.5-2.0 (3.0) dm tall (FOA)

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stems mostly pubescent or puberulent; NOT [stems mostly glabrous below the inflorescence] (FOA)

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basal leaves often forming a rosette

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petiole of basal leaves NOT conspicuously ciliate

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basal leaves much longer than stem leaves

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lower stem-leaves well developed, oblanceolate

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stem-leaves linear to linear lanceolate, sparse, often distant, reduced upwards

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leaves minutely gray pubescent (BF)

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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)

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inflorescence a panicle with more or less spreading or arching branches; NOT [inflorescence racemose, with branches ascending along the stem]; NOT [inflorescence corymbose, with the branches slanting upward, forming a rounded or flat-topped inflorescence] (BF)

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heads often second on the branches

 

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Solidago: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus.
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plants with fibrous roots; NOT with a taproot

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juice watery; NOT milky

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leaves alternate or basal; NOT opposite

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leaves simple; NOT pinnatifid, NOT divided

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leaves never spinescent

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heads small and numerous, in terminal or axillary clusters; NOT [usually solitary at ends of branches]

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involucral bracts in 2 or more series; NOT [in one series, sometimes with a few much shorter outer ones at the base]

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involucral bracts well imbricated; NOT scarcely imbricated

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receptacle naked

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flower heads with both tubular and ray florets

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ligulate flowers pistillate or neuter; NOT perfect

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ray florets yellow; NOT [pink, blue, purple, or white]

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stamens united to form a tube around the pistil

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pappus composed of hairs; NOT scales, NOT bristles, NOT firm awns, NOT a crown, NOT absent, pappus NOT chaffy

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pappus single, hairs sometimes unequal but not distinctly divided into an inner and outer series of two lengths; NOT [pappus double, hairs of the outer series inconspicuous, distinctly shorter than the inner]