Bog Goldenrod

Appearance

''Solidago uliginosa'' is a perennial herb up to 200 cm tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. One plant can produce as many as 230 small yellow flower heads in a narrow, elongate array. The species grows in bogs, marshes, and swamps.

The yellow flower clusters are typically dense and narrow with the panicles angled closely against the central stem, creating an erect, narrow plume or wand-like appearance. The flowers are about 0.64 cm long with 1 to 8 rays (petals) and encircle the stalks. Atypical specimens can have slightly arching panicles with the flowers arranged along one side of the stem (secund).

Leaves are firm with smooth surfaces and toothless or with small teeth around the edges. Basal and lower stem leaves are elongated, to 22 cm long and 3.8 cm wide, tapering to a long stalk that partially sheathes the stem.

Mid and upper stem leaves are stalkless to somewhat clasping, more lance-like, average 5 cm long and 0.83 cm wide, mostly toothless, the uppermost leaves much smaller. Stems are simple and erect, often a deep red color, smooth and hairless throughout except for very fine hairs in the flower cluster.

Naming

Solidago uliginosa Nutt.
Solidago neglecta Torr. & Gray
Solidago purshii Porter
Solidago uliginosa var. linoides (Torr. & Gray) Fern.
Solidago uliginosa var. neglecta (Torr. & Gray) Fern.
Solidago uliginosa var. terrae-novae (Torr. & Gray) Fern.
Solidago uniligulata (DC.) Porte
Aster terrae-novae (Torr. & A.Gray) Kuntze
Aster uliginosus (Nutt.) Kuntze
Aster uliginosus J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans
Aster uniligulatus (DC.) Kuntze
Bigelowia uniligulata DC.
Chrysoma uniligulata (DC.) Nutt.
Felicia uliginosa (J.M.Wood & M.S.Evans) Grau
Solidago chrysolepis Fernald
Solidago farwellii Fernald
Solidago humilis Pursh 1813 not Mill. 1768
Solidago klughii Fernald
Solidago linoides Torr. & A.Gray
Solidago simulans Fernald
Solidago terrae-novae Torr. & A.Gray

Habitat

Wetlands, wet meadows, fens.