Your help is appreciated. We depend on donations to help keep this site free and up to date for you. Can you please help us?

Donate

Native Plant Trust: Go Botany Discover thousands of New England plants

Solidago simplex — Rand's goldenrod

Copyright: various copyright holders. To reuse an image, please click it to see who you will need to contact.

Facts

Rand's goldenrod is named for its discoverer, Edward Lothrup Rand (1859-1924), a Boston lawyer and amateur botanist who published a flora of Mount Desert Island, Maine.

Habitat

Cliffs, balds, or ledges, mountain summits and plateaus, ridges or ledges, shores of rivers or lakes

New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.

North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

enlarge

Characteristics

Habitat
terrestrial
New England state
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Vermont
Leaf type
leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
Leaf arrangement
alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
Leaf blade edges
  • the edge of the leaf blade has no teeth or lobes
  • the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
Flower type in flower heads
the flower head has tubular disk flowers in the center and ray flowers, these often strap-shaped, around the periphery
Ray flower color
yellow
Tuft or plume on fruit
at least a part of the plume is made up of fine bristles
Spines on plant
the plant has no spines
Leaf blade length
25–159 mm
Flower head width
25–30 mm
Disk flower number
  • 11-20
  • 21-50
  • 6-10
Show all characteristics

  • Flowers

    Bases of bract appendages
    NA
    Bract cycle number
    there are three or more cycles of bracts
    Bract keels
    the bracts do not have keels
    Bract margins
    there are few or no fine hairs along the bract margins
    Bract separation
    the bracts appear completely unconnected to one another on all flower heads
    Bract shape
    • the main bracts are lanceolate (widest above the base, then taper narrowly towards the tip)
    • the main bracts are linear (long and very narrow)
    Bract spines
    the bracts have no spines
    Bract tip color
    the tips are a different color from the center of the bract
    Bract tip extension appearance
    NA
    Bract tip extension edge
    there are no projections from the bract tips
    Bract tip orientation
    the bracts are pressed against the plant, or spreading out at the tips
    Bract tip shape
    • the tips of the bracts acute (have a sharp point)
    • the tips of the bracts are obtuse (have a blunt point)
    Bract width
    0.7–1.2
    Bracts
    there are at least two distinct forms of bracts in different cycles
    Disk flower color
    yellow
    Disk flower lobe number
    5
    Disk flower number
    • 11-20
    • 21-50
    • 6-10
    Disk flower reproductive parts
    the disk flower has both pollen- and seed-producing parts
    Disk flower shape
    the disk flower is abruptly widened at some point below the lobes
    Flower head number
    • each flowering stem has four or more flower heads on it
    • each flowering stem has only one to three flower heads on it
    Flower head outer flowers
    at the outer edge of the flower head, each flower has a single enlarged lobe or strap
    Flower head platform
    the base has no bristles or papery scales
    Flower head platform surface
    NA
    Flower head position
    each of the flower heads is separate on its own peduncle (stalk), not clustered in groups
    Flower head profile
    the disk is rounded across the top
    Flower head shape
    the sides of the flower head are roughly parallel, like a cylinder
    Flower head width
    25–30 mm
    Flower type in flower heads
    the flower head has tubular disk flowers in the center and ray flowers, these often strap-shaped, around the periphery
    Height of flower head base
    3–7 mm
    Inflorescence branching (Solidago)
    the flower heads spiral around the flowering stem; the tips of the flowering stems do not arch or curve downwards
    Inflorescence shape
    the inflorescence is not flat-topped but appears rounded, with some flower heads distinctly higher than others
    Inflorescence stem
    • hairs are present on the stem of the inflorescence
    • the stem of the inflorescence is not hairy
    Number of bracts at flower head base
    12–28
    Ovary attachment
    the ovary is attached at or near the base
    Ovary beak
    there is no beak on the ovary
    Ovary cross-section
    • the ovary has five or more corners in cross-section
    • the ovary is compressed (flattened)
    Ovary hairs
    the ovary has hairs on it
    Ovary lines or ribs
    • there are seven to nine ribs visible on the ovary
    • there are ten or more ribs visible on the ovary
    Ovary profile
    in profile, the ovary is lance-shaped, but widest above the middle
    Peduncle hairs
    the peduncles are hairy
    Peduncle length
    0–15 mm
    Ray flower color
    yellow
    Ray flower reproductive parts
    the ray flowers have carpels or stamens, but not both
    Ray flowers
    • 11-15
    • 16-25
    • 6-10
    Ray length
    2–5 mm
    Reproductive system
    some of the flowers on the plant have only carpels or stamens, while others have both carpels and stamens
    Scale tip
    NA
    Smaller bracts at base of bracts
    there is no smaller, outer cycle of bracts
    Style branch number
    the style has two branches
    Style branches
    the style branch is narrow at the tip, or the style branches are narrow at the tips

  • Fruits or seeds

    Number of pappus parts
    11 or more
    Ovary length in developed fruit
    1.9–3.2 mm
    Seed hair tuft bases
    the pappus hairs are not attached to one another near the base
    Seed hair tuft details
    the pappus hairs are hooked or barbed
    Seed hair tuft length
    1.9–5.2 mm
    Seed hair tuft tips
    the pappus hairs are slender
    Seed hairs uniform
    there are two distinct lengths of pappus hairs
    Seed tuft scale number
    0
    Seed tuft type
    the pappus is made of very fine hairs or bristles
    Top of disk flower ovary
    NA
    Tuft or plume on fruit
    at least a part of the plume is made up of fine bristles

  • Glands or sap

    Bract resin
    the bracts have resin or resin glands
    Leaf blade glands
    the leaf blades have no glandular (translucent) dots or scales
    Sap
    the sap is clear and watery

  • Growth form

    Growth form
    the plant has one or more free-standing stems
    Plant lifespan
    the plant is perennial, it shows evidence of previous year's leaves, stems or stem bases
    Spines on plant
    the plant has no spines
    Underground organs
    the plant has a caudex (the root mass is firm and hardened at the top)

  • Leaves

    Final leaf segment length (compound lvs only)
    0 mm
    Final leaf segment width (compound lvs only)
    0 mm
    Hairs on underside of leaf blade
    the underside of the leaf is not hairy, or has very few hairs
    Hairs on upper side of leaf blade
    the upper side of the leaf is not hairy, or has very few hairs
    Leaf arrangement
    alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem
    Leaf blade base
    • the leaf has a distinct petiole
    • the leaf has no petiole
    Leaf blade base shape
    the base of the leaf blade is cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapers to the base with relatively straight, converging edges), or narrow
    Leaf blade bloom
    • the underside of the leaf has no noticeable bloom
    • there is a noticeable powdery or waxy bloom on the underside of the leaf
    Leaf blade edges
    • the edge of the leaf blade has no teeth or lobes
    • the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
    Leaf blade hairs
    NA
    Leaf blade length
    25–159 mm
    Leaf blade shape
    • the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
    • the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
    • the leaf blade is linear (very narrow with more or less parallel sides)
    • the leaf blade is oblanceolate (lance-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
    • the leaf blade is obovate (egg-shaped, but with the widest point above the middle of the leaf blade)
    • the leaf blade is spatulate (spoon-shaped; narrow near the base, then suddenly widening to a rounded tip)
    Leaf blade surface colors
    there is no noticeable color variation on the upper surface of the leaf
    Leaf blade tip
    • the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
    • the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)
    Leaf blade veins
    the leaf blade has one main vein running from the base towards the tip
    Leaf blade width
    2–31 mm
    Leaf disposition
    the lower leaves are larger, toothier, and/or on longer stalks than the upper leaves
    Leaf spines
    there are no spines on the leaf edges
    Leaf stalk
    • the leaves have leaf stalks
    • the leaves have no leaf stalks, but attach directly to the stem
    Leaf stalk length
    At least 0 mm
    Leaf tip extension
    NA
    Leaf type
    leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
    Leaflet number
    0
    Specific leaf type
    the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets
    Teeth per side of leaf blade
    At least 0

  • Place

    Habitat
    terrestrial
    New England state
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • cliffs, balds, or ledges
    • mountain summits and plateaus
    • ridges or ledges
    • shores of rivers or lakes

  • Scent

    Plant odor
    the plant does not have much of an odor

  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Flowering stem cross-section
    the flowering stem is circular, or with lots of small angles
    Leaves on stem
    there is at least one full leaf above the base of the flowering stem
    Stem bloom
    there is no powdery or waxy film on the stem
    Stem internode hair direction
    NA
    Stem internode hair length
    0 mm
    Stem internode hair type
    the stem has no hairs between the nodes
    Stem internode hairs
    the stem has no hairs between the nodes
    Stem wings
    the stem does not have wings on it

Wetland status

Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)

In New England

Distribution

Connecticut
absent
Maine
present
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present
Rhode Island
absent
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

ssp. randii

Maine
unranked (S-rank: SNR)

ssp. randii var. monticola

Massachusetts
extremely rare (S-rank: S1), endangered (code: E)
Vermont
rare to uncommon (S-rank: S2S3)

ssp. randii var. racemosa

New Hampshire
unrankable (S-rank: SU), Ind (code: Ind)
Vermont
extremely rare (S-rank: S1)

Subspecies and varieties

Solidago simplex ssp. randii var. monticola (Porter) Ringius is known from MA, ME, NH, VT.S. simplex ssp. randii var. racemosa (Greene) Ringius is known from ME, NH, VT.

From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key

21.  Solidago simplex  Kunth. ssp. randii (Porter) Ringius N

Rand’s goldenrod.  21a. Solidago glutinosa Nutt. var. racemosa (Greene) Cronq.; S. racemosa Greene; S. spathulata DC. var. racemosa (Greene) Gleason;  21b. Solidago glutinosa Nutt. ssp. randii (Porter) Cronq.; S. randii (Porter) Britt.; S. randii (Porter) Britt. var. monticola (Porter) Fern.; S. spathulata DC. ssp. randii (Porter) Gleason • MA, ME, NH, VT; western portion of MA. Cliffs, open and/or rocky summits, river shore outcrops.

1a.  Basal leaves mostly 7–10 times as long as wide, often subentire, with a slender midrib 0.1–0.2 mm wide; capitulescence more open when well-developed, with longer peduncles 5–15 mm long; plants of river shores 
 … 21a. S. simplex  ssp. randii var. racemosa (Greene) Ringius

1b.  Basal leaves mostly 3–8 times as long as wide, often sharply toothed, with a broad midrib 0.7–1 mm wide; capitulescence slender and compact, with shorter peduncles (0–) 1–4 mm long; plants of cliffs, summits, and alpine areas 
 … 21b. S. simplex  ssp. randii var. monticola (Porter) Ringius

Variety racemosa is known from ME, NH, VT. Variety monticola is known from MA, ME, NH, VT.

Native to North America?

Yes

Sometimes confused with

Solidago leiocarpa:
involucral bracts oblong to lanceolate, not glutinous, the middle ones 1.2–2 mm wide, green in large part, and leaves of the stem below the capitulescence numbering mostly 2–4 (vs. S. simplex, with involucral bracts linear to narrow-lanceolate, glutinous, the surface shiny as if covered with varnish, the middle ones 0.7–1.2 mm wide, with chartaceous base and sides, green only at the apex and along the central band, and leaves of the stem below the capitulescence numbering 5–40).

Synonyms

  • Solidago glutinosa Nutt. ssp. randii (Porter) Cronq.
  • Solidago randii (Porter) Britt.
  • Solidago randii (Porter) Britt. var. monticola (Porter) Fern.
  • Solidago spathulata DC. ssp. randii (Porter) Gleason

Family

Asteraceae

Genus

Solidago