Solidago chrysopsis

Florida Keys Goldenrod

Solidago chrysopsis Small is native to shallow sandy soils over limestone in subtropical South Florida and the Florida Keys.  It was treated as a diminuitive form of S. virgata (under the misapplied name S. stricta) growing on limestone in FNA (Semple & Cook 2006 FNA).  In a multivariate study (Semple et al. 2016), S. chrysopsis was found to be sufficiently distinct to justify recognizing it as a separate species  It is distinguished by having linear to very linear basal rosette leaves and very reduced upper stem leaves.  The species is diploid (2n=18) (Semple and Cook 2022).

Solidago chrysopsis range Semple draft

In a multivariate analysis of the S. stricta complex, S. chrysopsis was found to be well differentiated on several traits from S. virgata.  A collection of the species from Highland Co., Florida included in the analysis was thought to likely be introduced from further south in Dade Co.

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 revised 19 May 2025 by J.C. Semple 

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

1-4. Solidago chrysopsis, Franck 2516, Big Pine Key, Monroe Co., Florida. 1. Small plant, photo by A. Franck. 2. Basal leaves, cultivated plant, Waterloo, Ontario. 3. Inflorescence, photo by A. Franck. 4. Fruits.