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Solidago gigantea Aiton

Smooth goldenrod, giant 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
SpeciesgiganteaVery large: from Giganteus, “of or belonging to the giants”

About plant names...

Giant goldenrod is a North American native. For a comparison chart of some of the varieties of goldenrods, see Solidago.

Identification: Plants are 3-7′ (91-213 cm) tall, erect. They are fond of boundaries of wetlands and shaded floodplains. Stems are light green or pale purple, hairless, sometimes with a whitish waxy bloom. They occur in large patches. Leaves are narrow (lanceolate), ~3½″ (9.1-9.7 cm) × ⅜-½″ (1-1.4 cm) (roughly equal in size throughout the plant). They are pointed at both ends, alternate, sessile, with sharp teeth and three veins. Flowerheads may be tight and roughly conical, but are often looser, composed of gently curved tiers of up to 600 small yellow flowers.

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

Turner Photographics' Wildflowers site

The U.S. Geological Survey's Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

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

The Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

EFloras

References:

Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 156

Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 12 cm) ID is uncertain

Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) ID is uncertain

Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/24/2013 · Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Monadnock Conservancy, Peterborough, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Aster latissimifolius (Mill.) Kuntze var. serotinus Kuntze

Solidago gigantea Aiton var. leiophylla Fernald

Solidago gigantea Aiton var. pitcheri (Nutt.) Shinners

Solidago gigantea Aiton var. serotina (Kuntze) Cronquist

Solidago gigantea Aiton ssp. serotina (Kuntze) McNeill

Solidago gigantea Aiton var. shinnersii Beaudry

Solidago ×leiophallax Friesner

Solidago pitcheri Nutt.

Solidago serotina Aiton, non Retz.

Solidago serotinoides Á. Löve & D. Löve

 

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

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Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain

Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/24/2013 · Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Monadnock Conservancy, Peterborough, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 6 × 8″ (14 × 20 cm)

Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/24/2013 · Cranberry Meadow Pond Trail, Monadnock Conservancy, Peterborough, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod, giant goldenrod)

8/23/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, New Hamp­shire · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

Range:

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