Rocky Mountain goldenrod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rocky Mountain goldenrod |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Solidago
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| Species: |
multiradiata
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The Rocky Mountain goldenrod (scientific name: Solidago multiradiata) is a type of goldenrod plant. It's also called the northern goldenrod or alpine goldenrod. This plant grows naturally in North America. You can find it across the northern parts of the continent. This includes Alaska and most of Canada. It even grows north of the Arctic Circle!
Its range also goes through the western United States. It reaches as far south as Arizona, New Mexico, and California. This goldenrod mostly lives in high mountain areas. These places have subalpine and alpine climates. Its favorite homes include tundra and mountain meadows.
What Does It Look Like?
The Rocky Mountain goldenrod is a plant that lives for many years. It grows one or more stems from a branching base. These stems can lie flat or stand straight up. They can be anywhere from 3 to 80 centimeters tall.
Leaves
The leaves of this plant are long and narrow. Some are shaped like a spear, while others are wider at the tip. They can look like a spoon or a spatula. The largest leaves are at the bottom of the plant. They can be up to 20 centimeters long. Leaves higher up the stem are smaller. Most leaves are smooth, but some have small hairs. These hairs grow along the edges, which can be toothed or jagged.
Flowers
The plant produces a group of many small flower heads. This group is called an inflorescence. A single cluster can have up to 100 flower heads. Each flower head has many tiny yellow flowers. There are disc florets in the center. Around them are narrow ray florets. These ray florets are about 3 or 4 millimeters long.
Seeds
After the flowers bloom, the plant makes small fruits. These fruits are called achenes. They are only a few millimeters long. Each achene is covered in rough hairs. It usually has a fluffy top called a pappus. This pappus helps the seed float away in the wind.
Special Uses
This goldenrod is a very tough plant. It has been seen growing back quickly after oil spills in Alaska. Because of this, it is used in projects to help land recover. These projects are called revegetation projects. They help bring plants back to areas that have been damaged.
