Solidago lepida

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;

Photo by Ben Legler
Scientific Name: Solidago lepida
Family: Asteraceae
Common Name: West Canadian goldenrod
Synonyms/Misapplications: Solidago canadensis
Codon: SOLLEP

Taxonomy

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.

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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]

Solidago lepida seed. Photo by Lisa Hintz

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]

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

[1] WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. Retrieved from https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Solidago%20lepida

[:0-2] 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.

[3] Plants that Provide Seeds and Berries. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.wnps.org/plant-lists

[4] Native American Ethnobotany Database. Retrieved from http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=solidago+canadensis

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