Department of Biology
ESC 350
200 University Ave. W
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 32569
Fax: (519) 746-0614
Carolina Goldenrod
Solidago pulchra Small is native to sandy depressions and boggy ground in pine savannas in small area of coastal North Caroliana. In general appearance taller plants (60-80 cm) are similar to small plants of S. virgata (S. stricta sensu authors not Ait.). Small plants (20-50 cm) are most common. It has much reduced upper stem leaves, 5–25 heads in a wand shaped inflorescence, 8–13 rays, and 20–25 discs. The species is tetraploid 2n=36 (see Semple and Cook 2022 for cytogeography).
In a multivariate analysis of the S. stricta complex, S. pulchra was strongly supported as distinct from S. virgata (Semple et al. 2016). The mean number of disc florets was 15 for S. pulchra and 7.6 for S. virgata which means the involucres of S. pulchra are usually more broadly cylindrical versus narrowly so in S. virgata. The tallest most robust plants of S. pulchra could be confused with smaller plants of S. virgata.
Solidago pulchra, Semple & Suripto 9755, Onslow Co., North Carolina
Solidago pulchra, Inflorescence, Semple & Suripto 9755, Onslow Co., North Carolina
Solidago pulchra, atypical secund heads on horizontal stem, Semple & Suripto 9755, Onslow Co., North Carolina
Solidago pulchra, immature fruit with corolla, Canne 2199, North Carolina
Semple, J.C., T. Shea, M. El-Swesi, H. Rahman, and Y. Ma. 2016. A multivariate study of the Solidago stricta complex (Asteraceae: Astereae: S. subsect. Maritimae). Phytoneuron 2016-86. 1-34.
Semple, J.C. and R.E. Cook. 2022. Cytogeography of Solidago sect. Maritimae (Asteraceae: Astereae). Ann. Mo. Bot. Garden 107: 21-31.
Last update 1 June 2023 by J.C. Semple
© 2023 J.C. Semple, including all photographs unless otherwise indicated