Flower ID: IMG_2897.JPG-08-22-2019 Flower name (scientific): Oligoneuron rigidum (Linnaeus) Small PY: 1903. The name Oligoneuron rigidum is not accepted by the US National Plant Germplasm System, The Flora of North America, and Plants of the World Online, which treat it as a syn. for Solidago rigida L. Compositae The Global Database treats Solidago rigida L. as unaccepted, giving Oligoneuron rigidum (L.) Small as the accepted name. The USDA Plants Database also accepts Oligoneuron rigidum. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) Flower name (common): Stiff Goldenrod Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: A composite term from the Greek word oligo meaning few or little, and neuro from scientific Latin (borrowed from Greek) meaning nerve. Specific epithet: Latin for stiff or inflexible. Common name origin: The leaves of this plant start with a soft feel and then turn stiff later in the season, and goldenrod from the close similarity with other members of the goldenrod group of plants. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.4 inches (0.5 to 1.0 cm) Petal count: 6 Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-flat Plant description: Size: 12 to 60 inches (30. to 152. cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal and alternate, type is simple Size: Basal leaves up to 20 cm long and 5 cm wide. Mid to distal cauline leaves up to 5 cm long and 1.7 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, (basal and proximal cauline) ovate to rhombic, (mid to distal cauline) ovate (FNA) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, forest openings, fields, woods, roadsides, sun, dry to moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Some Solidago species are similar. Solidago mollis (Velvety Goldenrod) is similar, however there are just two reports of this species in the FW database, and Wisconsin represents the most western tip of its distribution in North America. Solidago mollis has 3 to 8 disc florets with upper stem leaves not clasping, whereas Oligoneuron rigidum has 14 to 35 disc florets and clasping stem leaves. Both Solidago petiolaris (Downy Goldenrod, Downy Ragged Goldenrod) and Solidago buckleyi (Buckley's Goldenrod) have similar features. However, Solidago petiolaris is a more southern species, not reported from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dokatos, but reported in Illinois, Missouri and further south, while Solidago buckleyi has a southern distribution that is somewhat limited, being reported in five states including Illinois and Missouri, but not reported in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed the flowers to make a lotion to treat bee stings and swollen fauces. They aslo prepared a berverage from the leaves. In the following reference Smith uses the synonym Solidago rigida for this plant (Smith, pp. 217-218, 1928). Latitude: 44.795595 Longitude: -91.513412 Altitude: 263.70 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Marathon, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, MB, ON, SK) References: Global Compositae Database. Accessed at http://www.compositae.org on 2021-11-30. Synonym(s): Basionym: Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym(s):