tall goldenrod

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• smooth goldenrod
• Turtle Mountain goldenrod

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Solidago gigantea var. serotina
• Solidago deflexa
• Solidago dumetorum
• Solidago pitcheri
• Doria pitcheri
• Solidago gigantea var. pitcheri
• Solidago cleliae
• Solidago shinnersii
• Solidago serotina var. minor
• Solidago gigantea subsp. serotina
• Doria dumerorum
• Solidago gigantea var. shinnersii
• Solidago somesii
• Solidago serotina var. dumertorum
• Solidago serotinoides
• Aster latissimifolius var. serotinus
• Solidago serotina f. huntingdonensis
• Solidago sera
• Solidago serotina var. gigantea
• Solidago leiophallax

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Solidago gigantea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and the genus Solidago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Solidago gigantea, exhibits a specific presence across several regions of Northern Europe. Its distribution can be traced through various territories, including the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. The species is also documented within the northern landscapes of Finland and Norway. Furthermore, its range extends westward to include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations highlight the plant's established foothold in these northern latitudes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solidago gigantea is characterized by its ability to thrive across a specific altitudinal gradient, typically inhabiting diverse landscapes within defined topographical limits. This species is most frequently documented within an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 860 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1450 m AMSL. Throughout its natural distribution, the plant maintains an average elevational range mean of 1450 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptation to the specific climatic and soil conditions found within these montane or upland environments. This vertical distribution suggests a specialized niche within its ecosystem, where temperature fluctuations and moisture availability are dictated by these specific altitude parameters.

Elevational range max:

1450 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

860 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Solidago gigantea is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or debris during unfavorable periods. Although the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness trait in certain contexts or specific environmental adaptations, it primarily manages its seasonal transitions through its specialized life form. This combination of a perennial nature and a hemicryptophytic structure ensures its long-term survival and ability to re-emerge effectively each year.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Solidago gigantea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This species is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it maintains an independent lifestyle rather than acting as a parasite. As a terrestrial organism, it is neither an epiphyte nor an aquatic or semiaquatic plant. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical variation, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 1.9375 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.9375 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solidago gigantea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Its leaf morphology is defined by a mean leaf size of 15.17 cm², and it maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 202.5 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies regarding light interception and biomass production.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

15.17 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

202.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solidago gigantea is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the plant's reproductive cycle. The flowering period typically begins in July and extends through September. Pollination is achieved through a biotic syndrome, specifically relying on insects to transfer pollen. While the plant is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive success is heavily tied to these insect pollinators. The resulting fruit is classified as a dry achene, which is an indehiscent type. Each fruit is highly prolific, producing a high yield of more than 1,000 seeds per fruit. These seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00028783325 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00006 g to a maximum of 0.00047 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.048 mm³. Following maturation, the seeds utilize an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by the wind. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual seed production the fundamental method for its propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00047 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00028783325 g

Seed mass min:

6e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.048 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Solidago gigantea has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercitrin, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid, Astragalin, Cacticin, Hyperoside.

quercitrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

4-hydroxy benzoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

Cacticin

1. Dr. Duke

Hyperoside

1. Dr. Duke

Isoquercitrin

1. Dr. Duke

Isorhamnetin

1. Dr. Duke

Juglanin

1. Dr. Duke

Quercetin 3-alpha-L-Arabinopyranoside

1. Dr. Duke

Quercetin 3-beta-robinobioside

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Solidago gigantea has 315 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimutagenic, Antioxidant, Diuretic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor.

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Arzneimittel-Forschung

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Solidago gigantea has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic, antioxidant, inflammation.

Antidiabetic

1. Electrophoresis

Antioxidant

1. Electrophoresis

Inflammation

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung