Solidago lepida
- Scientific Name: Solidago lepida
- Family: Asteraceae
- Common Name: West Canadian goldenrod
- Synonyms/Misapplications: Solidago canadensis
- Codon: SOLLEP
Contents
Taxonomy
| Solidago lepida | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Subkingdom: | Tracheobionta |
| Phylum: | Spermatophyta |
| Subphylum: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass: | Asteranae |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Solidago L. |
| Species: | Solidago lepida DC |
Description
Erect perennial, forms patches from long creeping rhizomes. Stems leafy and hairy near the top, basally reduced, with a dense cluster of small yellow flowers.
Height: Up to 5 feet (1.5 meters).
Leaves: Lacking well-developed basal leaves; stem leaves numerous and crowded, gradually reduced upwards; saw-toothed to entire; hairless to roughly hairy on upper and lower sides; leaves are prominently 3-veined.
.
Flowers: Numerous flower heads in dense pyramidal cluster; ray flowers 10-17, 1-3 mm long; involucres 3-6mm x 3-5mm, long-pointed bracts that sometimes overlap, sometimes sticky and glandular.[1][2]
Bloom Period
June, July, August, September.
Distribution
Widespread on both sides of the Cascades, Alaksa to California, east to Rocky Mountains and eastern Canada.[2]
Habitat
Ecological Setting
Fields, meadows, thickets, and shorelines, roadsides and disturbed sites; low to mid elevations.[2]
Soil Texture
Coarse, medium, or fine.
Soil Reaction / Salinity
pH, Minimum 4.8 pH, Maximum 7.5
No salinity tolerance
Shade Tolerance
Shade intolerant - mostly sunny 60%-80%
Uses
Wildlife
Birds: The seeds of goldenrod are eaten by numerous bird species.
Insects: The bright, showy flowers attract bumblebees and pine white, red admiral, and mylitta crescent butterflies. Syrphid flies and small wasps also frequently visit the goldenrod flowers.[3]
First Nations
Infusion of roots and flowers used for flank pains; Infusion of flowers taken as an emetic; Compound infusion of tubers given to babies that start suddenly during sleep; Compound decoction used as wash for child who does not talk or laugh; Infusion of flower heads taken for diarrhea; Infusion of shoots given to children with fevers; Decoction of flower heads taken for the flu; Infusion of blossoms used for special kinds of fevers; Infusion of plant used as a bath for the parent at childbirth; Decoction of plant used as a bath for babies with diarrhea, sleeplessness or excessive crying; Decoction of plant tops taken for diarrhea; Decoction of plant and wild tarragon used as a wash for horses with cuts and sores; Crushed blossoms chewed for sore throat; Infusion of crushed blossoms taken for body pain; Seeds used for food; Roots steeped or eaten; Roots smoked with other tobaccos.[4]
Gregory L. Tilford writes that the species within the Solidago genus may be used more or less interchangeably. He writes the greens can be eaten a cooked potherb, with variable palatibility, and the flowers make a nice sweetened tea. Dried leaves and flowers may be used as a styptic agent, and an infusion to reduce mucus production in the bronchi during a cold or flu. The tea is diuretic and regarded by him as a kidney tonic.[5]
Photo Gallery
Photo CNLM
Young plant, photo CNLM
photo by Lisa Hintz
References
- ↑ WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. Retrieved from https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Solidago%20lepida
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hitchcock, C. L., Cronquist, A., Giblin, D., & Legler, B. et al. (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
- ↑ Plants that Provide Seeds and Berries. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.wnps.org/plant-lists
- ↑ Native American Ethnobotany Database. Retrieved from http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=solidago+canadensis
- ↑ Tilford, G. L. (1999). Edible and medicinal plants of the west. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co.
