Solidago rigida

Solidago rigida, known by the common names stiff goldenrod and stiff-leaved goldenrod, is a North American plant species in the family Asteraceae. It has a widespread distribution in Canada and the United States, where it is found primarily east of the Rocky Mountains.^[2] It is typically found in open, dry areas associated with calcareous or sandy soil. Habitats include prairies, savannas, and glades.^[3]

Solidago rigida
S. rigida subsp. humilis
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Solidago
Section:	S. sect. Ptarmicoidei
Species:	S. rigida
Binomial name
Solidago rigida L. 1753
Synonyms[1]
Synonymy Aster rigidus (L.) Kuntze 1891 not L. 1753 Oligoneuron grandiflorum (Raf.) Small Oligoneuron rigidum (L.) Small Solidago grandiflora Raf. Aster jacksonii Kuntze, syn of subsp. glabrata Leioligo corymbosa (Elliott) Raf., syn of subsp. glabrata Oligoneuron corymbosum (Elliott) Small, syn of subsp. glabrata Oligoneuron jacksonii (Kuntze) Small, syn of subsp. glabrata Solidago corymbosa Elliott 1823 not Poir. 1817, syn of subsp. glabrata Solidago jacksonii (Kuntze) Fernald, syn of subsp. glabrata Oligoneuron bombycinum Lunell, syn of subsp. humilis Oligoneuron canescens Rydb., syn of subsp. humilis Solidago bombycina (Lunell) Friesn., syn of subsp. humilis Solidago bombycinum (Lunell) Friesner, syn of subsp. humilis Solidago canescens (Rydb.) Friesner, syn of subsp. humilis Solidago parvirigida Beaudry, syn of subsp. humilis

Description

Soliadgo rigida is a tall, leafy perennial. Its leathery leaves are large for a goldenrod, reaching 3–6 cm (1+1⁄4–2+1⁄4 in) wide and 8–20 cm (3+1⁄4–7+3⁄4 in) long. It produces heads of yellow flowers in the late summer and fall.^[3] Its fruit is a wind-dispersed achene.

Galls

This species is host to the following insect induced galls:

• Asphondylia s-rigida-bud-rosette-gall
• Asteromyia carbonifera (Osten Sacken, 1862)
• Gnorimoschema gibsoniella Busck, 1915
• Calycomyza solidaginis Kaltenbach, 1869^[4]

external link to gallformers

Subspecies

Subspecies^[1][3]

• Solidago rigida subsp. glabrata (E.L.Braun) S.B.Heard & Semple – southeastern + south-central U.S.
• Solidago rigida subsp. humilis (Porter) S.B.Heard & Semple – central + western Canada, central + western United States as far west as the Rocky Mountains
• Solidago rigida subsp. rigida – Ontario, central + eastern U.S.

• 
  Subspecies glabrata has hairless outer phyllaries, and a less pubescent stem and leaves

Conservation

This species is considered by NatureServe to be globally "secure" (G5), which is the lowest level of conservation concern assigned.^[5] However, it is known to be rare on the local level, due to its declining grassland habitat. It is listed as endangered in Connecticut,^[6] New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It is listed as endangered and extirpated in Maryland, as threatened in New York, and as historical in Rhode Island.^[7]

Native American ethnobotany

The Ojibwe use a decoction of root as an enema,^[8] and take an infusion of the root to treat "stoppage of urine".^[9] The Meskwaki make the flowers into a lotion and use them on bee stings and for swollen faces.^[10]