Flower ID: IMG_3312.JPG-09-16-2019 Flower name (scientific): Solidago speciosa Nuttall PY: 1818. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) so-li-DAY-go (or sol-id-A-go) spee-see-OH-suh Flower name (common): Showy 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: Showy, good-looking. Common name origin: From the attractive appearance of the plants. From the Latin virga for rod and aurea for golden, hence goldenrod, so named for the bright yellow flowers. Flower description: Size: 0.2 to 0.3 inches (0.5 to 0.8 cm) Petal count: 6, ray florets 2 to 9, disc florets 6 to 16. Color: yellow Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 8 to 60 inches (20 to 152 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Mid-stem to distal cauline leaves up to 9 cm long and 3 cm wide. Basal and lower stem leaves including the petiole up to 30 cm long and 8 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, (basal and proximal cauline) lanceolate to ovate-elliptic, (mid to distal cauline) narrowly ovate to lanceolate or elliptic (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, savannas, fields, savannas, woods, thickets, sun, dry to moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Characteristics to look for to aid an ID are the following. Leaves and stems are glabrous or glabrate, small leaves develop in the axils on the upper stem, leaf margins entire or sharply serrate to crenate, flowering stems erect or slightly curved, habitat preference dry sandy soil, and a showy appearance. Solidago uliginosa (Bog Goldenrod, Northern Bog Goldenrod) has a resemblance, but this species has a preference for wet habitats, and it has basal leaves 100 to 350 × 5 to 60 mm and midstem leaves 20 to 50 × 5 to 10 mm, compared with S. speciosa which has basal leaves 50 to 300 (including petiole) × 12 to 80 mm and midstem leaves 25 to 90 × 5 to 30 mm. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki employed the roots to prepare a tea that was used as a remedy for burns (Smith, p. 218, 1928). Latitude: 44.795492 Longitude: -91.513418 Altitude: 275.90 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CO, CT, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (MB, ON) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na