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Key to Solidago, Key H: Key to "bog wand goldenrods" -- with narrowly cylindrical (sometimes broader) inflorescences and sheathing petiole bases [subgenus Pleiactila, section Maritimae]

Asteraceae

Solidago

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1 Leaves somewhat fleshy, the stem leaves reduced but not very markedly so; inflorescence almost always with lower branches strongly recurved with secund heads; [usually of maritime or otherwise saline habitats, rarely in nontidal marshes or swamps].
  2 Involucres 3-4 mm high; rays 7-11; disc flowers ca. 10-16; leaf margins ciliolate; larger leaves < 3 cm wide; [MA south to FL, west to TX and beyond]
  2 Involucres 4-7 mm high; rays 12-17; disc flowers ca. 17-22; leaf margins not ciliolate; larger leaves > 3 cm wide; [VA northward]
1 Leaves not fleshy (rarely so in S. stricta of near coastal situations), the stem leaves much reduced relative to the basal; inflorescence showing only relatively weak tendency to recurved branches with secund heads; [inland habitats, except rarely S. stricta].
    3 Basal leaves 0.7-8 cm wide; plants short, 4-10 (-15) dm tall, typically fairly stout; [mainly of the Mountains (and the Coastal Plain from e. VA northwards), e. VA, w. NC, nw. SC, ne. GA, and northward].
      4 Ray flowers averaging 3; disc flowers averaging 8; heads 6-7 mm tall; [seepage over sloping rock on granitic domes, of sw. NC, nw. SC, and ne. GA]
      4 Ray flowers averaging 5; disc flowers averaging 6; heads 4-5 mm tall; [peaty bogs and fens, w. NC and e. TN northward].
        5 Basal leaves 0.7-2.5 cm wide; stem leaves linear or lanceolate (the lower cauline leaves 0.7-3 cm wide); disc flowers 9-15; [PA and WV (?) northwards]
        5 Basal leaves 3-8 cm wide; stem leaves oblong-lanceolate (the lower cauline leaves 3-8 cm wide); disc flowers 4-8; [scattered in NC and TN; less sparsely distributed northwards]
    3 Basal leaves 0.2-2.5 (-5) cm wide; plants short to tall, 3-20 dm tall, typically very slender; [Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont and southward].
          6 Basal leaves 0.2-0.5 (-0.7) cm wide; [s. peninsular FL]
          6 Basal leaves 0.7-2.5 (-5) cm wide; [collectively more widespread].
             7 Mid stem leaves mostly linear, > 7 × as long as wide (types: 7.5-12.5); lower floral branches often remote, distally recurved, and elongate, as much as 30 cm long (but not always present); [e. NC south to c. Panhandle FL, west to s. AL]
             7 Mid stem leaves mostly elliptic, oblanceolate, or lanceolate, < 7 × as long as wide; lower floral branches shorter, not remote (to 20 cm and virgate in S. stricta).
               8 Basal blades 1.5-5 cm wide, margins serrate to crenate, reticulum coarse and conspicuous; [Coastal Plain, s. NJ to e. NC]
               8 Basal blades 1-2 cm wide, margins entire to appressed-dentate, reticulum fine and inconspicuous.
                 9 Leaf margins smooth, entire; ray flowers 8-13 per head; disk flowers 14-25 per head; pappus (2.5-) 3.0-3.5 mm long; [se. NC and adjacent ne. SC]
                 9 At least basal leaves scabrous-margined, often minutely to noticeably denticulate; ray flowers 2-7 per head; disk flowers 6-16 per head; pappus 1.5-5.1 mm long; [collectively more widespread].
                   10 Fruiting heads 8-11 mm long; disk corollas 4.3-5.5 mm long; pappus 4.2-5.1 mm long; [NC south to s. FL, west to e. LA]
                   10 Fruiting heads 3.9-8 mm long; disk corolla 2.5-5 mm long; pappus 1.5-4.4 mm long.
                     11 Lower floral branches often recurved and/or spreading; fruiting heads 3.9-6.5 mm long; involucre 2.5-4.2 mm long; disk corolla 1.5-3.9 mm long; pappus 1.5-3.0 mm long; [mainly inland provinces, NC west to AL, north to TN and KY]
                     11 Lower floral branches erect to ascending (rarely spreading-recurved); fruiting heads 4-8 mm long; involucre 3.0-6.5 mm long; disk corolla 2.5-5 mm long; pappus 2.3-4.4 mm long; [se. NC]