Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_0824.JPG-08-19-2018
Flower name (scientific): Solidago altissima Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) so-li-DAY-go (or sol-id-A-go) al-TISS-ih-muh
Flower name (common): Tall Goldenrod
Family name (common): Aster
Family name (scientific): Asteraceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: From the Latin solido, to make whole or heal, to strengthen, referring to the assumed medicinal properties of the plant. A name used by Otto Brunfels (1488/89 – 1534) for its use as a medicine.
    Specific epithet: The tallest, referring to the plant height (can be over 6 feet).
Common name origin: From the height of the plant. From the Latin virga for rod and aurea for golden, hence goldenrod, so named for the bright yellow flowers.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.1 to 0.3 inches (0.3 to 0.8 cm)
     Petal count: 8, ray florets 5 to 17, disc florets 2 to 9
     Color: yellow
     Other: flower arrangement, Panicle
Plant description:
     Size: 24 to 79 inches (61 to 200 cm)
     Stem hairy:
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple
     Size: Lower stem leaves up to 15 cm long and up to 2 cm wide.
     Color:
     Hairy:
     Other: Shape: leaf, oblanceolate, (mid to distal cauline) oblanceolate (proximally) to lanceolate (distally) (FNA)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): August to October
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Prairies, meadows, fields, forests, woodland edges, streambanks, disturbed areas, roadsides, sun, dry to moist.
Fruit:
Seed:
Importance to wildlife:
Similar species (if any): S. canadensis (Canada Goldenrod) and S. gigantea (Giant Goldenrod) are similar tall species to S. altissima. Galls are common on S. altissima and S. gigantea, but very infrequent on S. canadensis. S. altissima has hairy stems, leaves with rough surfaces, and has involucres (floral bracts) 2.5 to 4.5 mm, whereas S. gigantea has essentially hairless stems, leaves with smooth surfaces, and has involucres (2-)2.5 to 4(-5) mm, while S. canadensis has involucres 1.7 to 2.5(-3) mm. S. altissima is considered by some authorities to be a variety of S. canadensis, but is currently treated by the FNA as a separate species.
Ethnobotany:
Latitude: 44.795723
Longitude: -91.513248
Altitude: 273.20
Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (MB, NB, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map
References:
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s):
Heterotypic Synonym(s):
Autonym: Solidago altissima subsp. altissima (The other infraspecific is Solidago altissima subsp. gilvocanescens (Rydberg) Semple which occurs native in many central US states and most of Canada.)
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU