Solidago shortii

Short's Goldenrod

Solidago shortii Torr. & A. Gray is a rare species native to a small area in Kentucky and along the Kentucky/Indiana border in the Louisville area.  The species is distinguished by its smooth lower stems, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate triple-nerved leaves lacking hairs on both surfaces, and heads with 3-8 rays with laminae 2-3 mm long and 5-9 disc florets (Semple and Cook 2006 FNA).  Beck et al. (2001) reported on morphological variation in the species. Smith et al. (2004) reported on the status of 14 populations in the Blue Lick Springs area that included small portions of Fleming, Nickolas, and Robertson Counties, Kentucky.  The status of populations in the Falls of the Ohio area (IN-KY) is questionable and some are extinct.  The species can be confused with S. altissima var. altissima, which has hairy leaves.  The species is tetraploid 2n=36.

Solidago shortii is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is in the Center for Plant Conservation’s National Collection of Endangered Plants.