Solidago canadensis
Encyclopedia
Solidago canadensis is an herbaceous
perennial plant
of the family Asteraceae
native to North America
. It is often grown as a wildflower
.
The plant is erect, often forming colonies. Flowers are small yellow heads held above the foliage on a branching inflorescence
.
It occurs throughout North America, in most US states and Canadian provinces. It is found in a variety of habitats, although it is not shade tolerant. It typically is one of the first plants to colonize an area after disturbance (such as fire) and rarely persists once shrubs and trees become established. It is found neither in very dry locations nor in waterlogged ones.
and China
, it is established as an invasive weed.
In eastern and southeastern China
, particularly the provinces of Zhejiang
, Jiangsu
, Jiangxi
and Shanghai
, its invasion has reached pandemic levels and has caused widespread concern. It has been reported that the invasion of the Canada Golden-rod along with other invasive plants, has caused the extinction of 30 native plants in Shanghai.{dead link} In the city of Ningbo
, Zhejiang
, it has reduced local orange harvests. It is still spreading across China, and sightings have been reported in as far as Yunnan
province. Various national and provincial authorities have been on high alert.
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial plant
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
of the family Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
native to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is often grown as a wildflower
Wildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
.
The plant is erect, often forming colonies. Flowers are small yellow heads held above the foliage on a branching inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
.
Ecology and distribution
S. canadensis is sometimes browsed by deer and is good to fair as food for domestic livestock such as cattle or horses.It occurs throughout North America, in most US states and Canadian provinces. It is found in a variety of habitats, although it is not shade tolerant. It typically is one of the first plants to colonize an area after disturbance (such as fire) and rarely persists once shrubs and trees become established. It is found neither in very dry locations nor in waterlogged ones.
Invasive Species
In many parts of EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, it is established as an invasive weed.
In eastern and southeastern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, particularly the provinces of Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
, Jiangxi
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
and Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, its invasion has reached pandemic levels and has caused widespread concern. It has been reported that the invasion of the Canada Golden-rod along with other invasive plants, has caused the extinction of 30 native plants in Shanghai.{dead link} In the city of Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
, it has reduced local orange harvests. It is still spreading across China, and sightings have been reported in as far as Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
province. Various national and provincial authorities have been on high alert.
External links
- U.S. Geological Survey: Solidago canadensis
- Profile: Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) Photos, Drawings, Text. (Wild Plants of Winnipeg from Nature Manitoba)
- Exotic Plant Spreads Across a Third of Mainland