FEW-FLOWERED GOLDENROD ^*- 



( Solidaqo sparsif lora ) 



A. CLASSIFICATION 



1. FAMILY: Aster, or Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) 



2. GENUS: Solidaqo is an ancient Latin name for the genus. 



3. SPECIES: The species epithet translates literally to few- 

 flowered (L. spars. - thin; L. flora - flower). It is 

 treated as synonymous with velvety goldenrod ( Solidaqo 

 velutina ) in Cronquist et al. (1994); which is used for the 

 species' illustration. Another common name for S. 

 sparsif lora is three-nerved goldenrod. 



B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 



1. FEDERAL STATUS 



a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: none 



b. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT: none 



2. STATE: The state rank is SI (critically imperiled) based on 

 two records. 



C. DESCRIPTION 



1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Few-flowered goldenrod is 

 a perennial herb, 3-6(8) dm. tall, with an elongate nodding 

 infloresence and well-developed stem leaves. The leaves are 

 prominently 3-nerved, with short pubescence that gives the 

 leaves a grayish cast. The flower heads are remotely-spaced 

 along the infloresence, which is typically drooping at the 

 tip, and with side branches that are curved and drooping as 

 well. The flower heads have 8 or fewer ray flowers, and the 

 involucral bracts are broadest at the base. 



2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Perennial 3-8 dm (11.8-31.5 in) 

 tall; herbage gray ish-canescent . Stems somewhat decumbent or 

 arching upward from a coarse, branching caudex. Leaves 

 firm, oblanceolate to lance-linear, entire to +/- crenate- 

 dentate, especially distally; well-developed midcauline 

 leaves prominently to obscurely 3-nerved, 4-10 cm (1.6-4 in) 

 long and 0,5-2 cm. (.2-. 8 in) v/ide; uppermost leaves reduced 

 to mere bracts. Infloresence a variable, often elongate ^ 

 panicle with the tip nodding, the lateral branches recurved-^ 

 secund and often scarcely exceeding the subtending leafy 



