Solidago rigida
 
Stiff Goldenrod

Primary Branch of Inflorescence, Side A

Hidden Valley Sanctuary,
Approximately 15 Miles North of Regina in the Qu'Appelle Valley

27-August-2014

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Rigida: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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plants generally taller; NOT [plants mostly 0.5-2.0 (3.0) dm tall]

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stems rigid

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stems gray puberulent; NOT [stem glabrous]

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leaves firm

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leaves very rough

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leaves gray pubescent; NOT [leaves glabrous]

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petiole of the basal leaves NOT conspicuously ciliate

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inflorescence corymbose, with the branches slanting upward, forming a rounded or flat-topped inflorescence; NOT [inflorescence a panicle or spike], NOT [inflorescence usually racemose, the inflorescence cylindrical to narrowly oval, or paniculate, with spreading or arching branches, the heads often secund]

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involucral bracts striate

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ray florets usually less than 5 mm long; NOT [ray florets large, 5-8 mm long]

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ray florets yellow

 

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Solidago: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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plants with fibrous roots; NOT [plants with a taproot]

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juice watery; NOT [juice milky]

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leaves alternate or basal; NOT [leaves opposite]

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leaves simple, not pinnatifid or divided

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leaves never spinescent

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heads small and numerous, in terminal or axillary clusters; NOT [heads usually solitary at ends of branches]

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involucral bracts in 2 or more series, well-imbricated; NOT [involucral bracts usually one series, not or scarcely imbricated (overlapping like shingles)] (BF)

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involucral bracts either imbricate in several series, or broad and somewhat leafy, or both; NOT [involucral bracts uniseriate, equal, narrow, commonly with a few much shorter outer ones at the base] (FOA)

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receptacle naked

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flower heads with florets both tubular and ray (radiate heads)

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ligulate flowers pistillate or neuter; NOT [ligulate flowers perfect]

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ray florets yellow

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stamens united to form a tube around the pistil

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pappus wholly or partly of capillary bristles, sometimes plumose; NOT [pappus chaffy or of firm awns, scales, or a crown or none]

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pappus single, bristles sometimes unequal but not distinctly divided into an inner and outer series of two lengths; NOT [pappus double, bristles of the outer series inconspicuous, distinctly shorter than the inner]