Species Factsheets
Solidago erecta
Slender Goldenrod
State Status: Pennsylvania Endangered (PE)
PBS Status: Pennsylvania Endangered (PE)
Federal Status:
Global Rank: G5
rank interpretation
State Rank: S1
Did You Know?
The pollen of this species is not light enough to be carried by wind so it is not a source of allergies like many believe.
Description
Slender goldenrod (Solidago erecta) is an upright, perennial herb that can grow up to 1.5m tall with stems that are smooth near the base but coarsely hairy along the flowering portion. The leaves grow alternately along the stem and become substantially reduced as they climb the stem. Leaves are elliptical, 5-20mm wide, and have a thick, firm texture. The flowers are displayed from August to October in narrow clusters containing many small flower heads. The flower clusters are spike-like, with compact, ascending branches. Each flower head is about 6mm wide and has a yellow central disk surrounded by five to nine yellow rays.
Rank Justification
Critically imperiled in the nation or state because of extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer occurrences) or because of some factor(s) such as very steep declines making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state.
Habitat
In Pennsylvania, it grows on dry, acidic, shaly river or road banks.
Survey Dates
Flowers late August - October
Distribution
Threats
This species is threatened by habitat loss through land conversion and habitat succession. The river and road banks where slender goldenrod can be found often have an open nature and may need to be maintained by disturbance, such as fire, flooding, or mowing. Over time, if these disturbances are minimized, the open habitats may become overgrown by woody or invasive species.
Management
Protection of slender goldenrod will require maintenance of known populations and preservation of the communities on which they are dependent. This may include sustaining appropriate hydrology, removal of invasive plants, and establishment of buffers that can moderate the effects of scouring events and run-off. Management of the known sites requires long term monitoring of populations.
Conservation Status Map
NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org.
https://gnps.org/plants/slender-goldenrod-solidago-erecta/
- NatureServe. 2018. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available at https://www.natureserve.org/explorer
- Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 2018.
- Rhoads, A.F. and W.M. Klein, Jr. 1993. The Vascular Flora of Pennsylvania. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rhoads, A.F. and T.A. Block.
- 2007. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. 2nd edition. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
