Nevada goldenrod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nevada goldenrod |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Solidago
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| Species: |
spectabilis
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| Synonyms | |
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Aster rothrockii Kuntze |
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Solidago spectabilis is a type of goldenrod plant. People often call it Nevada goldenrod, basin goldenrod, or showy goldenrod. This plant grows naturally in the western United States. You can find it in the Great Basin area and nearby regions. It lives in states like California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah. It used to grow in southwestern Idaho, but it is no longer found there. This plant has also been seen in Sanders County, which is in western Montana.
Where It Grows
Solidago spectabilis likes to grow in wet places. You can find it in bogs, wet meadows, and areas where water seeps out of the ground. It also grows along streambanks and near hot springs. Sometimes, it even lives in wet spots on alkali flats.
Plant Features
This goldenrod is a perennial herb. This means it is a plant that lives for many years. It grows from underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread. It usually has one or more straight stems. These stems can grow very tall, up to two meters (about 5 feet) high. The plant is mostly smooth, but it might have a few rough hairs.
At the bottom of the plant, there is a group of leaves called a basal rosette. These leaves are thick and shaped like a spear (lance-shaped). They can be up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. The bottom leaves have wide, flat stems. Their edges might be wavy or have small teeth. Leaves higher up on the stem are smaller and usually have smooth edges.
Flowers
The flowers of Solidago spectabilis grow in a large, upright cluster. This cluster can also be slightly curved. It holds many flower heads. Some plants can have as many as 100 flower heads in one cluster! Each flower head is small and yellow. It has 8 to 22 yellow disc florets in the center. Around these, there are 5 to 15 narrow yellow ray florets. These ray florets are like tiny petals and are usually no more than 4 millimeters long.
