goldenrod

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Goldenrod
• European goldenrod

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific biological grouping is defined by the genus Solidago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Solidago virgaurea, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. In the British Isles, it can be found growing throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, its presence extends into the Scandinavian landscapes of Norway. The species is also documented within the territories of Denmark and Finland. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various northern European habitats.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Solidago virgaurea is characterized by its adaptation to high-altitude environments, specifically thriving within the alpine zone. This species occupies a significant vertical niche, maintaining an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 1300 m AMSL to a maximum of 3400 m AMSL. Its presence in these upper reaches suggests a specialized tolerance for the climatic conditions typical of subalpine and alpine ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1300 m AMSL

Habitat :

alpine zone

Life history

The life history of Solidago virgaurea is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, it maintains its perennuating buds at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or accumulated organic matter during unfavorable periods. Despite its robust perennial nature, the species exhibits evergreen characteristics in its physiological tendencies, maintaining certain structural stability throughout its life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Solidago virgaurea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This self-supporting plant grows in a terrestrial habitat and functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small species with a plant height that varies significantly, ranging from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Solidago virgaurea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard mechanism for temperate species that utilizes the Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of insects. Its leaf morphology is defined by a mean leaf size of 23.025 cm², which contributes to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 216.85 cm²/g, indicating a relatively high leaf area per unit of dry mass. Furthermore, Solidago virgaurea does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

23.025 cm²

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

216.85 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Solidago virgaurea is primarily a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent in this species. The flowering period occurs late in the growing season, beginning in August and continuing through October. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects, with bees serving as a key pollinator. While the species is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive success is heavily tied to these insect interactions. Following pollination, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are indehiscent and contain seeds with a mean mass of 0.000545 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00036 g to a maximum of 0.00069 g. Dispersal is categorized as anemochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00069 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000545 g

Seed mass min:

0.00036 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Solidago virgaurea has 36 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercetin, Flavonoids, RUTIN, kaempferol, ALPHA-PINENE.

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules
3. Journal of soil science and plant nutrition
4. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Biomolecules
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of soil science and plant nutrition

kaempferol

1. Biomolecules
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Journal of soil science and plant nutrition

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

CAMPHENE

1. Journal of soil science and plant nutrition

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Journal of soil science and plant nutrition

Caryophyllene

1. Journal of soil science and plant nutrition

Activities

Solidago virgaurea has 280 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antihypertensive, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Antibacterial.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Arzneimittel-Forschung
3. Biomolecules

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Arzneimittel-Forschung
3. Biomolecules

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Dentistry journal
3. Biomolecules

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Arzneimittel-Forschung
3. Biomolecules

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Solidago virgaurea has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, pain, analgesic, antihypertensive, antipyretic.

Inflammation

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Pain

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Analgesic

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Antihypertensive

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Antipyretic

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Diuretic

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Edema

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Fever

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Infections

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Osteoarthritis

1. Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)

Preparations

Solidago virgaurea has 8 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous-ethanolic extracts, Aqueous/alcoholic extracts, Herbmix, alcoholic extracts, drugs.

Aqueous-ethanolic extracts

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Aqueous/alcoholic extracts

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Herbmix

1. PloS one

Alcoholic extracts

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Drugs

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Biomedical applications

Dry herbal samples

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Extracts

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Methanol extracts

1. Wiadomosci parazytologiczne