Solidago - tipping the jigsaw out of the box
Here's the list of goldenrods that we would like to be able to identify that occur in Manitoba and/or Saskatchewan and/or North Dakota
Euthamia
- Species Euthamia graminifolia (MB/SK/ND)
Solidago
Subsection Triplinerviae
Species Solidago gigantea (MB/SK/ND)
-- Variety Solidago gigantea var. gigantea (MB)
-- Variety Solidago gigantea var. shinnersii (MB/SK)Species Solidago canadensis (MB/SK/ND)
-- Variety Solidago canadensis var. canadensis (MB/SK)Species Solidago altissima (MB/SK/ND)
-- Variety Solidago altissima var. altissima (MB/SK)
-- Variety Solidago altissima var. gilvocanescens (MB/SK)Species Solidago lepida (MB/SK)
-- Variety Solidago lepida var. salebrosa (MB/SK)
-- Variety Solidago lepida var. lepida (MB/SK)
Subsection Glomeruliflorae
- Species Solidago flexicaulis (ND)
Subsection Squarrosae
Species Solidago hispida (MB/SK)
-- Variety Solidago hispida var. hispida (MB/SK)- Species Solidago speciosa var. jejunifolia (MB/ND) aka Solidago jejunifolia
Subsection Junceae
- Species Solidago juncea (MB)
- Species Solidago missouriensis (MB/SK/ND)
Subsection Solidago
- Species Solidago multiradiata (MB/SK) (tundra)
Subsection Nemorales
Species Solidago nemoralis (MB/SK/ND)
-- Subspecies Solidago nemoralis subsp. decemflora (MB/SK)
-- Subspecies Solidago nemoralis subsp. nemoralis (MB)- Species Solidago mollis (MB/SK/ND)
Subsection Maritimae
Species Solidago uliginosa (MB)
-- Variety Solidago uliginosa var. peracuta (MB)
Subsection Humiles
- Species Solidago spathulata ssp. glutinosa (MB/SK) aka Solidago glutinosa
Section Ptarmicoidei
Species Solidago rigida(MB/SK/ND) aka Oligoneuron rigidum
-- Subspecies Solidago rigida subsp. humilis (MB/SK)- Species Solidago riddellii (MB/ND) aka Oligoneuron riddellii
- Species Solidago ptarmicoides (MB/SK/ND) aka Oligoneuron album
hybrids
- Species Solidago ×lutescens (MB/SK) aka Oligoneuron x lutescens
- Species Solidago ×bernardii (MB) aka Oligoneuron x bernardii
Comments
@megnd well here's our targets
I feel confident identifying Solidago ptarmicoides, Solidago rigida, Euthamia graminifolia but that still leaves a lot of unknowns on the table
i see ND has eleven species...MB has 15 and SK has 12
You are tremendously brave to tackle the Solidago! :) I love these plants, but the ID's and keys are -- nightmare fuel! ;)
I can Identify rigida
@e16
I have started a key for goldenrods about 7 times so far. It is a case of the more you learn, the more you need to learn. I am trying to come up with a more visual, less technical key for Ids of photos of goldenrods. Something to do this winter. 🤔😣🤩
@e16 i think i am thinking that to start with what images to include in the observation to help identifiers - and identifying what key features identifiers are using (or could be using) to clinch an id
1 - Location
2 - Time of year
then:
For every plant clear and up close pictures of the following are preferred
Leaf front and back
Leaf attachment
Stem up close
Base of stem (at soil)
Inflorescence
Flowers
Other close-ups that can help. Bugs and galls on the plant, diseases, roots, Other?
also a wide shot of the plant in place
Look for leaf type (compound, simple. etc), attachment (opposite-alternate)(sessile, clasping, etc.), Vein pattern, Margin
Hair- stem (pubescent, sparse, absent, inrows, etc), leaf front and back (pubescent, hair in rows, hair on veins, hair on margins, etc)
Overall shape, height and habit of stem and flowers.
From this, Identifying the subsection is an accomplishment. I get stuck with the wide variability within a species that often prevents getting to the subsection. I don't currently know how many keys must be confirmed to positively ID all goldenrods. Somebody has probably already done the stats of that.
[My guess is 6 keys because as we all know, 7 keys always ends with Kevin Bacon. (That's a joke) 😁]
@lysandra has been very helpful with plants in this region.
spent some time filling in 'flowering' phenology across the three focus areas (MB/SK/ND) - still aways to go to catchup with the back log :)
Thanks for looking at this! I will start using Triplinerviae to identify unidentifiable 'Solidago canadensis' photos. This is a difficult group to aid with on iNat.
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