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Share your observations of plants or non-game animals with the Natural Heritage Inventory.
Help care for rare plants and animals by ordering an Endangered Resources plate.
- Contact information
- For information on Wisconsin's rare plants, contact:
- Kevin Doyle
608-416-3377
Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
Photo © B. Summers
Life history
Species overview
Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in hardwood forests along Lake Michigan. Blooming occurs late August through late September; fruiting occurs throughout September. The optimal identification period for this species is early August through late September.
Synonyms: Solidago axillaris, Solidago caesia var. axillaris
Identification
- Distinguishing characteristics: Cylindrical (terete) stem covered with a bluish-white, waxy coating; widespread.
- Flower characteristics: Inflorescence chiefly axillary, sometimes branched; ray florets 1 to 5; disk florets 5 to 8.
- Fruit characteristics: Hairy achenes.
- Leaf characteristics: Chiefly cauline, may or may not be serrate, acuminate,smooth or slightly hairy, lanceolate or lance-ellipitic, 6 to 12 cm long by 1 to 3 cm wide, tapering to sessile or obscurely short-petiolate base.
Phenology
- Blooming phenology: late August through late September
- Fruiting phenology: throughout September
- Optimum time to identify: early August through late September
Other
- Growth form: Forb-erect
- Vegetative reproduction: Rhizomatous
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Comments: Associated Species: Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Tilia americana, Quercus alba, Q. borealis, Erythronium americanum, Podophyllum peltatum, Smilacina racemosa, Geranium maculatum.
State status
Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin
The table below provides information about the protected status - state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.
| Summary Information | |
|---|---|
| State Status | END |
| Federal Status in Wisconsin | none |
| State Rank | S3 |
| Global Rank | G5 |
| Tracked by NHI | Y |
Habitats and landscapes
The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.
General habitat information
- Habitat description: Found in hardwood forests along Lake Michigan.
- Soils: Rich, sometimes clayey soils.
Natural communities
This table lists the natural communities that are associated with Bluestem Goldenrod. Scores for natural community associations are: "significant" association (score=3), "moderate association" (score=2) or the species can be present but is only weakly associated with the community (score=1).
| Natural communities | score |
|---|---|
| Southern Dry-mesic Forest | 3 |
| Southern Mesic Forest | 3 |
Ecological landscapes
This table lists the ecological landscape association scores for Bluestem Goldenrod. The scores (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None) also correspond to the map.
Species guidance
The Endangered Resources Program has developed avoidance measures and management guidelines for plants on the Natural Heritage Working List. These are a work in progress, and we welcome your suggestions and feedback. Sources used in developing this information can be found here.
Avoidance measures
These are specific actions designed to avoid "take" (mortality) of this species.
- Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides; use care with spot spraying.
- Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.
Management guidance
Management guidelines are additional considerations that may help maintain or enhance habitat for this species
- Maintain high forest canopy cover; this species requires shaded habitat conditions.
Other resources
Links to additional Bluestem Goldenrod information
Other links related to vascular plants (all exit the DNR website)
- Wisconsin Flora
- NatureServe Explorer
- Atlas of Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora - Wisconsin State Herbarium
- USDA - NRCS Plants Database
- USGS Midwestern Wetland Flora - field office guide to plant species
- eFloras
- Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium
- Intermountain Herbarium Grasses of North America
- Orchids of Wisconsin
Photos
Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating a photo to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use
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The WI Endangered bluestem goldenrod reaches its range extremities in rich, maple-beech forests in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin. Milwaukee County.
Photo by staff, Wisconsin DNR.
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Photo © B. Summers.
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Photo © Richard Bauer.
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Photo © B. Summers.
Support for Wisconsin's rare plant information has been provided by the Division of Forestry, the Endangered Resources Fund and the Wisconsin Rare Plant Preservation Fund. To donate, visit the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin [exit DNR].
