Specimen record
Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod
Solidago rugosa
Description
One of the most common goldenrods in central Massachusetts, wrinkle-leaf goldenrod forms golden arching plumes of tiny yellow flower heads along roadsides and in meadows from late August through October. The species is named for its distinctively wrinkled (rugose) leaves. Contrary to popular belief, goldenrods do not cause hay fever — their pollen is insect-carried, not wind-borne. Ragweed, which blooms at the same time, is the actual culprit.
Identification tips
- 1Arching, one-sided pyramid-shaped flower clusters (panicles) of tiny golden-yellow heads
- 2Leaves conspicuously wrinkled (rugose) with strongly impressed veins
- 3Stem hairy, especially in the upper portion
- 4Alternate leaves, elliptical, sharply toothed, rough-textured
- 5Grows 60–150 cm tall in sunny to partly shaded roadsides and meadows
Specimen & preservation notes
Press a stem showing the arching flower plume and several wrinkled leaves. Yellow color preserves reasonably well. Include a close-up of the rugose leaf surface detail. Goldenrod is very common — collect freely for teaching collections.
Habitats
Collection calendar
| Wk | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||
| 3 | ||||||||
| 4 |
Collection notes
Season check
Guide window is wider than observed records.
Flowering records: 214 iNaturalist observations, Massachusetts · Nearby: 700 observations within 25 km