Solidago tortifolia

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 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. In a multivariate study of possible related species, S. tortifolia was the most strongly supported species statistically (Semple & Lopez Laphitz 2016). The species is diploid (2n=18). Semple (2023) presented the cytogeography of the species.

Semple, J.C. and R. Lopez Laphitz. 2016. On Solidago gypsophila and S. pringlei (Asteraceae: Astereae), rare and not so rare Mexican endemics: A multivariate study of the Tortifolia group of subsect. Triplinerviae. Phytoneuron 2016-29:1–20.

Semple, J.C. 2023. The cytogeography of Solidago juliae, S. leavenworthii, and S. tortifolia(Asteraceae: Astereae). Phytoneuron 2023-21: 1–12.

Last revised 19 May 2025 by J.C. Semple

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