Late goldenrod

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Late goldenrod

Late goldenrod

Late goldenrod leaves

Late goldenrod leaf

Late goldenrod inflorescence

Late goldenrod

Late goldenrod

Late goldenrod stem

Late goldenrod

Late goldenrod stem

Morphology

Stem

Erect, 1-20, or loosely clustered, usually reddish, glabrous, waxy, lightly-hairy among heads in inflorescence.

Leaves

Alternate, sessile or weakly stalked; basal leaves absent at flowering; middle stem leaves numerous, thin, lanceolate, 2.4 to 6.4 inches long, .4 to 1.8 inches wide, tapering at both ends, conspicuously 3-veined, underside glabrous or sometimes slightly pubescent on veins; margins nearly entire to sharply toothed; tip tapering to point.

Inflorescence

Panicle-like, dense, often leafy, triangular in outline; branches curved downward at tips; heads directed to 1-side.

Flower

Involucre 1/10 to 1/6 inch tall; bracts unequal, pointed, tips greenish; ray florets 8-18, yellow; disk florets 7-17, yellow.

Fruit

Achene, cylindrical, ribbed, sparsely short-hairy, tipped with numerous white, hair-like bristles, enclosing small seed.

Ecology

Habitat

Low wet areas, moist woods and prairie depressions, edges of ponds and streams, damp thickets, and roadsides.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

Native Americans used the blossoms to treat fevers and used the stems to make baskets.

Additional Notes