Solidago juncea

Early Goldenrod, verge d’or junciforme

Solidago juncea Ait. is native to open sandy soils, disturbed areas, and fields in eastern Canada and the U.S. becoming rare in the central and southern states.  The stems usually in clumps from short thick rhizomes or caudices, rays mostly 7–13 and disc florets mostly 8–12 (Semple & Cook 2006 FNA).  The inflorescence varies from secund pyramidal to more elm tree like in branching with the lower branches long and ascending arching. Like other species in subsect. Junceae, the upper leaves usually have fasicicles of leaves on very short lateral branches.  The species is diploid 2n=18 throughout the range.