Solidago rugosa

Rough-stemmed or Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod, verge d’or rugueuse

Solidago rugosa Miller is highly variable in stem height, degree of leaf wrinkling, inflorescence shape and branch length, and hairiness. It is similar to members of the S. canadensis complex in lacking lower stem leaves at the time of flowering; it differs in not having 3-nerved leaves.  The species includes diploids (2n=18; four varieties), tetraploids (2n=36; all varieties), and hexaploids (2n=54; var. sphagnophila). Semple et al. (2021) reviewed previously published chromosome numbers and presented new data and a cytogeographic map for the species.  Semple et al. (2021) cited Beck et al. (2021) who did a genomic investigation of S. ulmifolia and included samples of S. rugosa in their analysis and concluded that based on the limited sample size there was only limited phylogenetic separation of the varieties recognized in S. rugosa and that the results did not support recognizing subspecies.  Further study is needed.

The species has been divided into two subspecies and five varieties that can be difficult to distinguish (Semple & Cook 2006 FNA).

• ssp. rugosa
  • var. rugosa
  • var. sphagnophila
• ​ssp. aspera
  • ​var. aspera
  • var. celtidifolia
  • var. cronquistiana

Semple, J.C., Jie Zhang, R.E. Cook, and B.A. Suripto. 2021. Cytogeography of the Solidago rugosa Mill. complex (Asteraceae: Astereae) in Eastern North America.  Taxonomy 2021 (1) 290-301.

Beck, J.B., M.L. Markley, M.G. Zielke, J.R. Thomas, H.J. Hale, L.D. Williams, and M.G. Johnson. 2021. Are Palmer's Elm-Leaf Goldenrod and the Smooth Elm-Leaf Goldenrod Real? The Angiosperms353 Kit Provides Within-Species Signal in Solidago ulmifolia s. l. Systematic Botany 46 (4), 1107-1113.

Last revised 13 April 2025 by J.C. Semple     

© 2025 J.C. Semple, including all photographs unless otherwise indicated.