Canadian Goldenrod
Solidago Canadensis
Collected by Colton Nappier, member of the MICDS Botany Class Fall 2021. The specimen was collected on September 20th 2021, in Ladue, Missouri, United States of America.
38°39'36" N 90°23'45" W
Most stalks are about 2 meters tall, the specimen is 10 cm wide (at it's widest point) & 25 cm tall.
The grove is about 24' by 8', bordered by a creek to the West & a sidewalk to the South & East. Beyond the creek is a large parking lot, with some porous pavement implemented to reduce runoff.
There were many pollinators interacting with the Canadian Goldenrod when I collected the sample. Most of these pollinators were bees, but there were also small butterflies, which are documented below.
Goldenrod is insect-pollinated, which means it doesn't send pollen into the atmosphere. Instead, the pollen sticks to the flowers, where bees & butterflies spread it to promote new growth. Some experts have called the goldenrod the "single most valuable perennial plant for pollinators", according to Zip06.
Above: In mid-September, the plants are still in bloom, but the flowers are beginning to dry out and develop seeds. By October, the seeds will develop fuzz to assist in their dispersal in the wind (similarly to dandelions or milkweed), according to Ava's Flowers.
"I'm no botanist. If you're the color of sulfur
and growing at the roadside, you're goldenrod."
-Maggie Smith
Canadian goldenrod generally prefers moist, sunny conditions.
Many believe goldenrod is a weed that pushes out native plants simply because it is so common in the Midwest. In reality, it is simply an adaptable native plant in Missouri & Illinois.
Sources:
Smith, Maggie. Goldenrod: Poems. United States, Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2021.
Additional Resources:
Research Performed by Montana State University PhD Candidates on the lifecycle, identification, and impacts of Solidago canadensis