1192 CARDUACEAE 



Leaves near the inflorescence with oblanceolate or spatu- 

 late blades. 

 Involucre 3.5-4 mm. high : bracts thin. 

 Involucre 4..5-5. 5 mm. high : bracts thick. 

 Leaves near the inflorescence with ovate or oval or obo- 

 vate blades. 

 Heads mostly over r2-flowered : foliage gray. 

 Heads mostly less than 12-flowered : foliage green. 

 Blades of the upper leaves narrowed int o petiole-like bases : 

 involucres 3 mm. high. 



1. Solidago cassia L. Stems 3-11 dm. tall, terete, glabrous, more or less glaucous, 

 simple or widely branched : leaf-blades spatulate on the lower part of the stem to broadly 

 linear, or narrowly or linear-lanceolate above, 6-14 cm. long, mostly less than 2 cm. wide, 

 acute or acuminate, serrate, sometimes coarsely or sharply so, above the entire base, pale 

 green beneath, glabrous : heads in axillary, often raceme-like, clusters : involucre cylin- 

 dric-campanulate, 3.5-4 mm. high, 1.5-2 mm. thick ; bracts obtuse : achenes pubescent. 



In woods and thickets, Maine to Ontario, Minnesota, Florida and Texas. Summer and fall. 



2. Solidago asterif 611a Small. Similar to S. caesia, in habit, but somewhat stouter : 

 leaf-blades elliptic, sometimes narrowly so, 2.5-9 cm. long, mostly over 2.5 cm. wide, 

 acuminate, coarsely and sharply serrate above the entire cuneate base, paler beneath than 

 above, somewliat pubescent about the nerves beneath, or glabrous at maturity : heads in 

 axillary clusters : involucres narrowly campanulate, 4-5 mm. high, 2.5-3 mm. thick ; 

 bracts obtuse : achenes pubescent. 



In thickets and on hillsides, Georgia to Louisiana. Summer and fall. 



3. Solidago flexicaulis L. Stems 2-9 dm. tall, angled, usually simple, glabrous : 

 leaf-blades ovate to oval above the petiole-like base, 5-15 cm. long, acuminate, sharply and 

 often doubly serrate with more or less flaring narrow teeth, somewhat pubescent beneath : 

 heads in axillary clusters wliich are sometimes aggregated into a bracted thyrsus : involu- 

 cres cylindric-campanulate, 4-5 mm. high, 2-2.5 mm. thick ; bracts obtuse : achenes 

 pubescent. 



In rich woods or on rocky hillsides, New Brunswick to South Dakota, Georgia and Kansas. Sum- 

 mer and fall. 



4. Solidago flaccidifolia Small. Stems 6-13 dm. tall, angled, glabrous, simple or 

 nearly so : leaf-blades elliptic-obovate on the lower part of the stem to elliptic above, 6-19 

 cm. long, acuminate, coarsely serrate above the entire base, light green above, pale green 

 beneath, glabrous : heads in axillary clusters : involucres campanulate, 3 mm. high, about 

 2 mm. thick ; bracts obtuse : achenes pubescent. 



On hillsides, northwestern Georgia. Fall. 



5. Solidago Curtisii T. c^ G. Stems 5-14 dm. tall, angled, usually simple, glabrous : 

 leaf-blades relatively long, spatulate-elliptic on the lower part of the stem to narrowly 

 elliptic or linear-elliptic above, 8-20 cm. long, acuminate, coarsely serrate above the entire 

 base, finely pubescent beneath : heads in axillary, sometimes raceme-like clusters : involu- 

 cres narrowly campanulate, 4.5-5 mm. high, about 2 mm. thick ; bracts mainly linear, 

 rather obtuse : achenes pubescent. 



In mountain woods, Virginia and West Virginia to Georgia and Tennessee. Late summer and fall. 



6. Solidago lancifolia T. & G. Stems 5-13 dm. tall, angled, simple or sparingly 

 branched, glabrous : leaf-l)lades relatively long, similar to those of S. dtrtisii, but glabrous 

 or essentially so : heads in axillary, commonly raceme-like clusters : involucres broadly 

 campanulate, 5-6 mm. high, about 3 mm. wide ; bracts mainly oblong, rounded at the apex : 

 achenes pubescent. 



On shaded mountain slopes or summits. North Carolina and Tennessee. Summer and fall. 



7. Solidago pubens M. A. Curtis. Stems 4-15 dm. tall, angled, mostly simple, 

 pubescent : leaf-blades oblong-spatulate at the base of the stem, to elliptic-spatulate, elliptic 

 or linear-elliptic above, 5-16 cm. long, acuminate, appressed or sharply serrate, manifestly 

 pubescent beneath : heads in axillary, often raceme-like clusters : involucres cylindric- 

 campanulate, about 4 mm. high, 2 mm. thick ; bracts copiously pubescent, the inner lin- 

 ear, all obtuse : achenes pubescent. 



In rich mountain woods. North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. Summer and fall. 



8. Solidago Buckleyi T. & G. Stems apparently over 5 dm. tall, angled, pubes- 

 cent : leaf-blades oblong or elliptic-oblong, 5-9 cm. long, acute at both ends, appressed- 

 serrate above the broadly cuneate base, pubescent beneath : heads in small axillary clusters : 

 involucres campanulate, about 4 mm. high, 2-2.5 mm. tiiick ; bracts lanceolate to linear- 

 lanceolate, acute, the outer pubescent : achenes glabrous. 



On mountain slopes, middle Alabama. Fall. 



