Western Canada goldenrod facts for kids
The Western Canada Goldenrod, also known as Western Goldenrod, is a type of plant found in North America. It belongs to the Solidago group, which is part of the big sunflower family. You can find this plant growing in many parts of Canada, the western United States, and even northern Mexico.
Quick facts for kids Western Canada goldenrod |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Solidago
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| Species: |
lepida
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| Synonyms | |
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Synonymy
Aster lepidus (DC.) Kuntze
Solidago canadensis var. lepida (DC.) Cronquist Solidago lepida var. caurina (Piper) M.Peck Solidago lepida var. elongata (Nutt.) Fernald Solidago lepida var. fallax Fernald Solidago lepida subsp. fallax (Fernald) Semple Solidago lepida var. molina Fernald Solidago lepida var. salebrosa (Piper) Semple Solidago lepida var. subserrata DC. |
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Contents
What Does Western Goldenrod Look Like?
The Western Goldenrod (Solidago lepida) is a plant that lives for many years. It can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 150 centimeters (about 5 feet).
This plant spreads using special underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help new plants grow nearby, making the goldenrod spread out.
Its leaves have rough, jagged edges, like small teeth. These leaves grow directly on the main stem of the plant, not in a bunch at the bottom.
Its Flowers
One Western Goldenrod plant can produce a lot of small flower heads. Sometimes, it can have as many as 800 of these tiny flower clusters!
Each small flower head is made up of two kinds of tiny flowers:
- Ray florets: These are like the "petals" you see around the edge of a sunflower. The Western Goldenrod has between 7 and 22 of these.
- Disc florets: These are the tiny flowers in the center of the flower head. This plant usually has between 2 and 13 disc florets.
Where Does Western Goldenrod Grow?
The Western Goldenrod has different types, called varieties or subspecies, that grow in various places.
Different Types and Their Homes
- Solidago lepida subsp. fallax: You can find this type in eastern Canada. It grows in places like Labrador, Newfoundland, Québec, and New Brunswick.
- Solidago lepida var. lepida: This is a very widespread type. It grows from Alaska all the way east to the Northwest Territories. Southward, it can be found in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and even Chihuahua in Mexico.
- Solidago lepida var. salebrosa: This variety likes the mountains. It grows in the Rocky Mountains, from Alberta and British Columbia in Canada, south through New Mexico and Arizona, and down to Baja California in Mexico.
