Leaves: basal withering by flowering, proximalmost cauline petiolate or sessile, usually withering by flowering, proximal usually largest, not 3-nerved (except S. drummondii), usually with pronounced lateral nerves along entire midnerve. Heads in thyrsiform-paniculiform, open to congested, cone-shaped secund arrays, proximal branches arching, secund, often proximalmost elongate and array repeated distally. Phyllaries not striate, eglandular. Pappi bristles usually in 2, rarely in 3 series (shorter, outer setiform scales rarely present, inner weakly, if at all, clavate, moderately so in S. odora).

Distribution

North America

Discussion

Species 7 (7 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Solidago (sect. Solidago) ser. Drummondiani, Solidago (sect. Solidago) ser. Odorae, Solidago (sect. Solidago) ser. Venosae

Key

1	Stems developing from branched caudices or short rhizomes, elongate rhizomes 0	> 2
1	Stems developing from elongate creeping rhizomes	> 4
2	Leaves coarsely to finely serrate, not gland-dotted, usually anise-scented whencrushed	Solidago odora
2	Leaves entire, minutely translucent gland-dotted, not anise-scented	> 3
3	Leaves sparsely hirsute at least on abaxial midribs and main nerves	Solidago ulmifolia
3	Leaves glabrous	Solidago delicatula
4	Mid cauline leaves sessile, ± clasping, obscurely serrulate or subentire, not rugose	Solidago fistulosa
4	Leaves subsessile, not clasping, ± strongly serrate, rugose	> 5
5	Involucres mostly 4–6 mm; broader phyllaries 0.7–1.2 mm wide; stems glabrousbelow arrays; mid cauline leaves elliptic	Solidago latissimifolia
5	Involucres mostly 2.5–4 mm; phyllaries usually less than 0.5 mm wide; stems hairy below arrays (except var. sphagnophila which is glabrous but otherwise like var. rugosa); mid cauline leaves lanceolate to ovate	Solidago rugosa