3188 



SOLIDAGO 



SOLIDAGO 



in Eu. and N. Asia, making, altogether, perhaps 130 

 species. A very few of the important species may be 

 described here; for others, the current botanical man- 

 uals should be consulted. 



Amongst the glories of the American autumn are the 

 asters and goldenrods. They complement each other. 

 The asters run in cyanic colors, goldenrods in xanthic, 

 the blue and blush on the one hand and the yellow 

 and golden on the other. Because the goldenrods are so 

 common, they have not been appreciated for planting. 

 They improve in the garden, however, the plants 

 becoming larger and the bloom fuller and richer. They 

 present few difficulties in cultivation. They may be 

 transplanted from the wild with the greatest ease, and 

 the stools may be lifted and divided as soon as they 

 become root-bound and show signs of failing. Some of 

 them become weedy if the soil is very rich. The soli- 

 dagos are variable, even within the same species. There- 

 fore it is well to mark fine individual clumps when 

 in bloom, for removal in late autumn or early spring. 

 The observation of a single season should result 

 in a fine collection of individual plants. A 

 very attractive grouping of asters and golden- 

 rods can be made entirely of native species: 



thyrsus, the branches of which are ascending and often 

 leafy: bracts of the involucre oblong, very blunt. Rich 

 soil, E. N. Amer. A.G. 13:583. G.F. 3:561 (adapted 

 in Fig. 3637). Excellent for half-shady border. 



BB. Lvs. entire or essentially so. 

 Virgaurea, Linn. EUROPEAN GOLDENROD. A rough 

 simple-stemmed but stout perennial 1-3 ft. high: basal 

 Ivs. 4-7 in. long, 2-2 ^ in. wide, obtuse or acute; upper 

 Ivs. sessile or narrowed into margined petioles: fls. in a 

 dense terminal, rather narrow and often interrupted 

 thyrsus which is often 8-10 in. long: bracts of the 

 involucre acute or acutish. Eu. G. 27:7. One of the 

 best garden plants of the group. A prostrate form is 

 offered. S. cdmbrica, Huds., is a compact and dwarf 

 form, 6 in. or less high, with larger heads. S. Virgaurea 

 is represented in the U. S. by S. Cutleri, 

 Fern. (S. Virgaurea var. alpina, Bigel.), in 

 the highest alpine districts of N. New Eng- 

 land and N. Y. ; this American species appears 

 not to be in the trade. 



3638. Solidago canadensis. 



3639. Solidago nemoralis. 



3640. Solidago rugosa. 



with a background of sumac, the autumnal colors of 

 which are beautifully harmonized by the blues and 

 purples of the asters and the yellows and cream-yel- 

 lows of the goldenrods. 



A. Heads in small axillary clusters, not usually in large 

 terminal infl. 



cafesia, Linn. WREATH GOLDENROD. Fig. 3636. A 

 smooth slender perennial, often glaucous, simple or 

 sometimes branched: Ivs. stalkless, acuminate, the base 

 narrowed, sharply toothed, 2 L -3J^ in. long: fls. in 

 axillary racemes or head-like clusters, yellow or some- 

 times whitish: involucral bracts obtuse. E. N. Amer. 

 Aug.-Oct. Useful as a partial shade plant or in the 

 open border. 



AA. Heads in a large terminal infl. which is not composed 



of 1 -sided clusters of fls. (secund). 



B. Lvs. serrate. 



specifisa, Nutt. Fig. 3637. Stout, smooth, usually 

 simple-stemmed perennial, smooth below, often rough 

 above: Ivs. glabrous, firm, the basal 3-6 in. long and 

 %-lM in. wide, diminishing in size above, crenate, 

 pinnately veined: heads in a large showy terminal 



AAA. Heads in a terminal infl., usually a panicle, which is 

 composed of 1 -sided branches or clusters (secund). 



B. Foliage fragrant; Ivs. pinnately veined. 



odora, Ait. SWEET GOLDENROD. A slender, simple- 

 stemmed, anise-scented perennial about 18-24 in. high: 

 Ivs. dotted, quite entire, acute or acuminate, 2J^ 4 

 in. long, lanceolate: fls. in a small, not very showy 

 cluster, but persisting many weeks; tips of the involu- 

 cral bracts acute. E. U. S. Good for dry sandy open 

 places. July-Sept. 



BB. Foliage not fragrant; Ivs. triple-nerved, with a pair of 

 lateral veins beside the midrib. 



c. Lower Ivs. lanceolate, sharply serrate. 



canadensis, Linn. Fig. 3638. St. 3-5 ft., stout, hairy 

 and usually much branched : Ivs. acute at each end, the 

 lower sharply serrate, lanceolate, 3-7 in. long, M-lJi 

 in. wide, the upper smaller and often entire: fls. in a 

 very large terminal secund panicle, involucral bracts 

 linear, obtuse or acutish. In dry soil, E. N. Amer. 

 There are many wild forms but none seems to be in the 

 trade. Aug.-Nov. This is a coarse and somewhat 

 weedy species; very common. 



