Solidago spathulata
           
Mountain Goldenrod

Upper Leaf Top

Lac des Isles in Meadow Lake Provincial Park
14-August-2008

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Spathulata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora (BF)  and Flora of Alberta (FOA) leading to this species. 
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plants generally taller than 0.5-2.0 dm

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stems mostly glabrous below the inflorescence; NOT [stems mostly pubescent or puberulent]

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leaves glabrous; NOT [leaves pubescent or puberulent]

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leaves lanceolate; NOT [leaves obovate]

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leaves more than 4 times as long as wide; NOT [leaves 2.5-3 times as long as wide]

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at least the lower leaves petioled; NOT [leaves subsessile] (BF)

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lower leaves NOT ovate, or if so, not long-petioled; NOT [lower leaves ovate, with the petiole as long as the blade] (BF)

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petiole of the basal leaves NOT conspicuously ciliate

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inflorescence a panicle or spike; NOT [inflorescence corymbose, with the branches slanting upward, forming a rounded or flat-topped inflorescence] (BF)

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inflorescence racemose, with branches ascending along the stem; NOT [inflorescence a panicle with more or less spreading or arching branches] (BF)

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heads NOT corymbose, usually racemose, the inflorescence cylindrical to narrowly oval, or paniculate, with spreading or arching branches; NOT [heads corymbose, the inflorescence rounded or flat-topped] (FOA)

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inflorescence cylindrical; NOT [inflorescence more or less oval] (BF)

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inflorescence more or less cylindrical or narrowly oval (BF)

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inflorescence more or less interrupted

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branches of the inflorescence shorter than or as long as the subtending stem leaves; NOT [branches of the inflorescence much longer than the subtending stem leaves]

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heads often secund

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heads glutinous

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flowers yellow; NOT [flowers white or cream]

 

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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 [plants with a milky or sticky sap]

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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; NOT [involucral bracts usually one series]

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involucral bracts well-imbricated; NOT [involucral bracts not or scarcely imbricated]

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receptacle naked

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flower heads with florets both tubular and ray; NOT [flower heads with all florets tubular]

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ray florets pistillate or neuter; NOT [ray florets perfect]

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ray florets yellow; NOT [ray florets usually pink, purple, blue, or white]

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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 scales, or of firm awns, 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]