ANATOMY OF CERTAIN GOLDENRODS' 
EpitH S. WHITAKER 
(WITH PLATES VII AND VIII AND ONE FIGURE) 
In dealing with the anatomical features of Solidago, and espe- 
cially in studying the modifications of its woody cylinder in relation 
to the leaf trace, it is well to bear in mind the fact that the golden- 
rods belong to a family which occupies a high place systematically. 
The largest proportion of herbs and short-lived perennials, espe- 
cially in temperate regions, belongs to the Compositae; and since 
they are so generally admitted to be high forms, a certain amount 
of evolutionary progress can be taken for granted in studying them. 
Another advantage in investigating genera of the Compositae is 
the fact that in the family and in any genus of the family both the 
woody and herbaceous type of stem may be found; hence compari- 
sons are more easily made and conclusions more readily drawn. 
Not only within the same genus are both kinds of stem to be found, 
but the same aerial axis has regions which are characteristically 
woody and herbaceous. This situation is well illustrated by 
Solidago. In the lower portions of the aerial axis, as well as in the 
subterranean parts of the stem, the organization is typically woody; 
while in the higher and more slender portions of the stem the her- 
baceous type prevails. In short, Solidago presents an epitome of a 
woody-herbaceous condition in which the transition from one type 
to the other is advantageously elucidated. 
The species of goldenrod studied were Solidago canadensis, 
S. bicolor, S. rigida, S. caesia, S. speciosa, S. sempervirens, S. 
graminifolia, S. latifolia, S. serotina, and S. patula. It was found 
that in all these species there are certain modifications of the woody 
cylinder related definitely to the leaf strands. These consist in 
the transformation of portions of the woody segment through which 
the leaf trace takes its departure into parenchyma and in the 
elimination of fibers and vessels. 
3 Contributions from the Laboratories of Plant Morphology of Harvard Uni- 
versity. 
Botanical Gazette, vol. 65] [250 
