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Solidago canadensis L.

Canada goldenrod

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderAsteralesFlowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
FamilyAsteraceaeThe aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
GenusSolidagoFrom Latin solido, “to make whole or heal,” because it was believed these species had healing properties
Speciescanadensis“Of or from Canada”

About plant names...

Canada goldenrods are natives of North America. For a comparison chart of some of the varieties of goldenrods, see Solidago.

Identification: Plants are 2-6′ (60-182 cm) high. The main stem is smooth near the base, with rows of soft small hairs nearer the top. Leaves are lance-shaped ("lanceolate") and sharply serrated, gray-green, mostly hairless above, hairy below. They are up to 6″ (15 cm) × 1″ (2.5 cm) at the base, and progressively smaller up the stem. Several yellow flowerheads, each 3-5″ (7.6-12 cm) in length, branch sideways from the main stem, and have flowers on one side only. Individual flowers are less than ⅛″ (3.2 mm) around, usually having 8-14 rays and 3-6 disk florets. Flowers bloom July to September.

The insect who looks like an escapee from the Emerald City is a cuckoo wasp. Cuckoo wasps are frequently mistaken for sweat bees (also called halictid bees), as both are colorful and about the same size. Here is an excellent comparison.

Edibility: Not edible.

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

EFloras

References:

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 448

Peterson, Roger Tory, McKenny, Margaret, Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers—Northeastern and North Central North America, Houghton Mifflin, 1968, p. 190

Thierer, John W., Niering, William A, Olmstead, Nancy C., National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region, Alfred A. Knopf, 2001, p. 414

Brandenburg, David M., National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America, Andrew Stuart Publishing, Inc., 2010, p. 135

Turner, Mark, Gustafson, Phyllis, Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest, Timber Press, 2006, p. 262

Spellenberg, Richard, National Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers, Western Region, Alfred A. Knopf, 2001, p. 321, 397

Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)

9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)

 

Solidago canadensis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)

The visitor is a cuckoo wasp (from the Chrysididae family) · 8/17/2013 · Hopkinton State Park, Hopkinton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)

9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 16 cm)

Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)

8/17/2013 · Hopkinton State Park, Hopkinton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)

Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)

The panicles are characteristically lopsided. · 8/17/2013 · Hopkinton State Park, Hopkinton, Mass­a­chu­setts

Range:

About this map...