Solidago canadensis L.

Perennial, stoloniferous herb forming dense patches; stems erect, green or tinged reddish, moderately clothed in short hairs, becoming almost glabrous toward base, not branched, up to 2 m tall. Basal lvs withered at flowering; mid cauline lvs narrow-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, apetiolate, cuneate, acute to acuminate, usually entire, sometimes serrate, 3-nerved, scaberulous on upper surface and margins, pilose on lower, 8–10–(15) × 1–2–(2.5) cm; uppermost lvs smaller. Infl. a lax, racemose panicle with the individual racemes mostly spreading and secund. Capitula cylindric, (2)–3.5–5 mm diam.; peduncles hairy, 0.5–2 mm long. Inner involucral bracts narrow-oblong, glabrous, (2.5)–3–3.5 mm long; outer bracts narrow-triangular, c. 1.5 mm long. Ray florets c. 8–12; ligules linear-obovate, yellow, 1–3 mm long, recurved. Disc florets 3–5–(6), yellow. Ovary hairy; pappus scabrid; mature achenes not seen.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Feb.–May.