Solidago tortifolia

Twist-leaf goldenrod

Solidago tortifolia Elliott is native to dry, usually sandy soils in pinelands and embankments on the coastal plain of the southeastern U.S.  It has linear to linear-lanceolate leaves that are reduced upward and the lower leaves that often twist into coils when senesced but persist on the stem (Semple & Cook 2006 FNA).  Unlike the closely related S. juliae and S. leavenworthii, which have elongated narrow secund pyramidal inflorescences, the inflorescence of S. tortifolia can be broadly pyramidal with more elongated lower branches.  The species is diploid 2n=18. Semple (2023) presented the cytogeography of the species.