Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 347 



LANCE-LEAVED GOLDEN-ROD (Solidago grami- 

 nifolia). This species differs greatly in appearence 

 from the usual form of most of the Golden-rods; in 

 fact the difference in form is even more pronounced 

 than that of the Blue-stemmed variety, and is so great 

 that many botanists favor the forming of a new 

 Genus for it. It is a very common species and is 

 found everywhere, either in moist or dry situations. 



The stem is simple, angular and slightly rough; it 

 ascends 2 to 5 feet and near the summit sends up 

 many slender wiry, leafy branches supporting flat- 

 topped flower clusters. The flowers are crowded 

 closely together but are very small and rather dull- 

 colored; they have 12 to 20 minute rays. The leaves 

 are small and narrowly lanceolate; they have three 

 to five ribs and are toothless but have a rough edge. 

 It blooms from August until October, very commonly 

 from N. S. to Sask. and southwards to N. J. and Mo. 



SLENDER GOLDEN-ROD (Solidago tenuifolia) is 



a somewhat similar species with narrower leaves, 

 linear-lanceolate, usually one-ribbed and minutely 

 dotted. The stem is smooth and more slender; it 

 grows from 1 to 3 feet high. The flowers are in a 

 flat-topped cluster, each head having 6 to 12 tiny rays. 

 It is found in sandy soil, chiefly near the coast, from 

 Mass to Fla. 



SHOWY GOLDEN-ROD (Solidago speciosa) is a 

 large species, from 3 to 7 feet tall, with a stout sim- 

 ple stem and a magnificent, bright golden-yellow, 

 plume-like head; the flowers are comparatively large 

 and have usually five rays. Readily distinguished by 

 its leaves, the lower ones rather large, contracting 

 into a margined stem, gradually decreasing in size to 

 small lance-shaped ones at the top of the stem. 



