FOUR NEW SPECIES OF GOLDENROD FROM THE EAST- 
ERN UNITED STATES. 
By E. S. STEELE. 
The Solidagos here described are all kindred plants, but the first 
seems to connect more with the American virgaurea types and the 
other three rather with the speciosa group. The latter would all 
probably be referred to S. rigidiuscula, if to any recognized species. 
Consulting on the one hand the original description’ and on the 
other the material in the National Herbarium, by 8S. rigidiuscula, 
we should understand a plant 50 to rarely 90 cm. high with the leaves 
thick, crowded throughout, none of them much’ enlarged, the inflor- 
escence (at least normally) narrow and dense, the heads distinctly 
smaller than those of S. speciosa. This would admit several Northern 
specimens with somewhat thinner leaves and a much less xerophytic 
aspect, which may eventually be regarded as distinct, but would 
exclude forms from east of Lake Michigan with the lower leaves more 
separated and enlarged. It would also exclude S. venulosa Greene,’ 
a plant ranging from Texas to Kansas, sharply distinguished by its 
larger heads. The three new species all have the heads rather small, 
but differ in inflorescence and foliage.* 
Solidago castrensis Steele, sp. nov. 
Stem erect, 60 to probably 75 em, high, rather slender, very smooth. glabrous 
nearly or quite to the inflorescence, upwards increasingly though moderately 
hispidulous; foliage sparse, the lower internodes 3 to 5 em. long, those above 
gradually somewhat shortened; about five of the lower leaves clearly petiolate. 
the longest petioles 5 em. long, somewhat margined but involute and appearing 
slender, a few of the lowest with vestiges of a hispid ciliation near the insertion ; 
largest leaves 12 to 14 cm. long, their blades narrowly elliptic-obovate, 25 to 35 
mm. wide, acute or often apiculate, at length cuneately narrowed into the petiole, 
serrate for at least the upper half with strongly mucronate teeth; remaining 
leaves subpetiolate or at last merely attenuate at the base, more finely serrate 
or sometimes almost entire; all the leaves moderately thick, coriaceous, the 
slightly upturned margin obscurely roughened, otherwise smooth and glabrous, 
*Torr. & Gray, Fl. N. Amer. 2: 205. 1842. 
* Pittonia 5: 138. 1903. 
®’The note may be here appended that the plant intended by me in Contri- 
butions, volume 18, page 371, under the name Solidago missouriensis was 
S. glaberrima Mart. 
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