About Solidago rigidiuscula (Torr. & A.Gray) Porter
This entry addresses Solidago rigidiuscula (Torr. & A.Gray) Porter, originally described as a variety of Solidago speciosa, the showy goldenrod. Solidago speciosa is a North American flowering plant species belonging to the family Asteraceae. Its distribution spans the Canadian province of Ontario in central Canada, plus eastern and central United States. It ranges from the Atlantic coast westward to the Great Plains, covering an area from Maine to Georgia (excluding Delaware), extending west as far as Texas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. Solidago speciosa is a perennial herb that can grow up to 200 cm (80 inches, over 6 feet) tall. It produces a thick underground caudex. A single plant can produce up to 5 stems, and each stem can bear up to 300 small yellow flower heads. Two varieties of Solidago speciosa are recognized: Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula Torr. & A.Gray, which occurs mostly in the western portions of the species' range, and Solidago speciosa var. speciosa, which occurs mostly in the eastern portions of the species' range.
