Solidago pulverulenta

Southern Downy Goldenrod

Solidago pulverulenta Nutt. has been treated as S. puberula ssp. pulverulenta (Nutt.) Semple (Semple & Cook 2006 FNA) and as S. puberula var. pulverulenta (Nutt.) Chapm., but treated as a species here based on results presented in two multivariate studies of S. subsect. Squarrosae (Semple et al. 2017) and the S. puberula-S.pulverulenta complex (Semple et al. 2020).  Solidago pulverulenta has leaves (20–)50–110+, mid cauline 10–40 mm long, upper leaves much reduced compared to S. puberula which has leaves 20–50(–60), mid cauline usually 40–50 mm long, upper leaves somewhat reduce]. The species has slightly shorter involucres on average than S. puberula and the phyllaries are sometimes less attenuate and sometimes slightly broader.  Stems of S. pulverulenta tend to be taller than those of S. puberula, but very short individuals occur in both species. The range of distribution of S. pulverulenta is nearly allopatric on the coastal plain from Maryland to Florida and is campared to that of S. puberula on Astereae Lab web page of that species.  The species is diploid 2n=18.