| Author | L. | |
| Distribution | In NC, restricted to the Mountains. Weakley (2018) maps it also in the Piedmont, but specimens need to be closely examined. A Swain County specimen (at CONV) is misidentified. This is the taxon formerly listed as Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum, now elevated to full species by Weakley (2020). But, in 2022, Weakley moved the genus members back to Solidago -- this now as S. rigida.
MA to southern Ont., MN, and NE, south to NC, TN, AR, and TX. | |
| Abundance | Very rare to rare, and declining, in the Mountains (with few extant sites). This is a State Threatened species. | |
| Habitat | Habitat data are poorly known for NC specimens: roadbanks, railroad bank, and "between Barnard Station and Bald Mt." (Yancey Co.). | |
| Phenology | Flowering and fruiting August-October. | |
| Identification | The two Stiff Goldenrods are distinct among our species in having spreading, rather flat-topped inflorescences and elliptical stem leaves. Stems grow 3-6 feet from a basal rosette of stalked, lance-shape to elliptical leaves. Stem leaves are generally stalkless, elliptical, and with blunt marginal teeth. Midwestern Stiff Goldenrod differs from S. jacksonii in its moderately to densely short-hairy stems (vs. glabrate) and short-hairy outer involucral bracts (vs. glabrous). | |
| Taxonomic Comments | In 2020, Weakley transferred Solidago rigida to Oligoneuron, following Nesom (paper in Phytoneuron 2020). While not without controversy, the recognition of the latter genus has gained favor among geneticists and botanists in recent years. However, we regard the elevation of the 2 varieties of rigidum to full species status to be premature and want to see additional published research. Nonetheless, as the NC Plant Conservation Program (2021) now lists these two taxa as full species -- O. jacksonii and O. rigidum -- this website reluctantly followed that, as these are not legally listed names. In 2022, Weakley moved the taxon back to Solidago rigida.
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| Other Common Name(s) | Stiff-leaved Goldenrod, Bold Goldenrod, Prairie Bold Goldenrod | |
| State Rank | S1 | |
| Global Rank | G5T5 [G5] | |
| State Status | T | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | FACU link |
| USACE-emp | UPL link |
