89 
SOLIDAGO VIRGAUREA. 
Common Golden Rod* 
Class Syngenesia. — Ort/er Pol yg A mi a Superflua. 
Nat. Ord. Composite DiscoiDEaa, Lin7i. Corymbifere, Jms*. 
Gen. Char. Receptacle naked. Pappus simple. Corollets 
of the ray about fiv«. Calyx scales imbricate, closed. 
Spec. IChar, Stem slightly zig-zag, angular. Clusters pa- 
nicled, crouded, erect. Upper Leaves lanceolate, narrow at 
both ends ; lower elliptico-lanceolate, hairy, partially serrated. 
This species of Soliclago is an indigenous perennial plant, found 
in woods, copses, and upon heathy ground, where it is frequently 
met with among furze. Some botanists consider the Solidago 
Virgaurea as the only native species; but we are told by Miller, that 
" three t sorts grow naturally in England, yet have not been well 
distinguished by any bot9.nic writer; for in all the books which treat 
of the English plants, tliey are put down as one sort, to which they 
have applied a title of Caspar Bauhin, viz. Virga Aurea Latifolia 
Serrata, which is a different plant from either of our English sorts; 
but the tliird sort here mentioned, (Angustifolia) I believe to be what 
Caspar Bauhin has titled Virga Aurea Angustifolia Minus Serrata." 
Mr. Lindley, in the tenth edition of the Hortus Cantabrigiensis, 
enumerates two indigenous species, viz. tlie Solidago Virgaurea and 
Solidago Carabrica. These, if distinct species, bear a close resem- 
blance to each other, and are subject to many varieties. Few 
species of this genus were known to Linnaeus.I Subsequent botanists 
have added greatly to the number : Sir J. E. Smith enumerates 
fifty-one, the greater number of which are natives of North 
An) erica. 
♦ Fig. o. the lower part of the stem and root. 6. A floret of the radius, c. A floret 
of the disc. d. The caljx. e. The receptacle. /. A magnified scale of the calyx. 
■f So'idago RatifoJia; Solidago Vulgari.s ; Solidago AngttSlifoHa. 
t Foarteeo species only, ?ide Systema Vegetab. ed. 14. 
VOL. II. O 
