ASTERACEAE

SUNFLOWER FAMILY

David J. Keil, Family Editor and author, except as specified

Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1–many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1–many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)4–5; stamens 4–5, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):1–28. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.

SOLIDAGO

GOLDENROD

John C. Semple

Perennial from woody caudex or rhizome, branched above
Leaves alternate, resinous, often sessile
Inflorescence: heads radiate, few–many, in ± flat-topped to panicle-like, often ± 1-sided clusters; involucre cylindric to bell-shaped (wider when dry); phyllaries in 3–5 graduated, overlapping series, midrib generally ± swollen, translucent
Ray flowers few–many; ligules yellow
Disk flowers few–many; corollas yellow, generally glabrous; style branches finely papillate, appendage triangular
Fruit obconic, compressed; pappus of 25–45 long-barbed bristles in 1 series
Species in genus: ± 150 species: especially North America (South America, Eurasia)
Etymology: (Greek: make-well, from purported medicinal value)
Reference: [Semple et al. 1990 Can J Bot 68:2070–2082]

Native

S. spectabilis (D.C. Eaton) A. Gray

SHOWY GOLDENROD

Plant ± glabrous
Stems < 18 dm, from short caudex
Leaves: basal largest, < 25 cm, oblanceolate, tapered, entire or serrate toward tip, ± fleshy; cauline reduced, entire, axils often with leaf-clusters
Inflorescence ± panicle-like, ascending to arching, tip sometimes 1-sided; heads generally many; involucre 3–4 mm; phyllaries lanceolate to narrowly ovate, obtuse to acuminate
Ray flowers 6–21; ligules 1.5–3.5 mm
Disk flowers 8–22; corollas 2.5–4.5 mm
Fruit 1–2 mm, sparsely strigose
Chromosomes: 2n=18
Ecology: Bogs, alkaline meadow
Elevation: 300–2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Cascade Range, n High Sierra Nevada (e slope), Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to Oregon, Nevada
Flowering time: Jul–Sep
Synonyms: S. missouriensis Nutt., Missouri goldenrod, misapplied
Horticultural information: DFCLT.