Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Stout Goldenrod - Solidago squarrosa   Nuttall
Members of Asteraceae:
Members of Solidago with account distribution info or public map:
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Section 6 » Order Asterales » Family Asteraceae
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AuthorNuttall
DistributionScattered in the Mountains; not present downstate.

N.B. to Ont., south to western NC, IN, and KY.
AbundanceVery rare and declining. Very few recent records, with the NCNHP listing only two extant records, of only a few plants at each site. In danger of extirpation, presuming that it is not being overlooked. This is a Significantly Rare species. Weakley (2022) records it as Historical.
HabitatDry to mesic rocky montane woodlands, forest openings, and rocky slopes -- but generally in rich, rocky soil under a canopy.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting August-September.
IdentificationStout Goldenrod grows up to 4.5 feet tall, the stem glabrous, and the inflorescence branches short-hairy. Basal and lower stem leaves are elliptic to ovate, up to 8 inches long, taper to long, winged stalks, and are toothed on the margins. The stem leaves are much smaller, lack stalks, and vary from lance shape to ovate and not toothed. The inflorescence is cylindrical or narrowly elliptical, the numerous showy heads oriented facing sideways (parallel to the ground). Hardly any living botanists have seen this rarity in the state, but it should be obvious when found -- by its tall stature, large lower leaves, and long and narrow terminal spike, but with the large heads not densely packed along the axis.
Taxonomic CommentsNone

Other Common Name(s)Squarrose Goldenrod
State RankS1
Global RankG4G5
State StatusSR-P
US Status
USACE-agcp
USACE-emp
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