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Early goldenrod's inflorescence is apical, a panicle of flowering stems that "often arch upward and outward like a fireworks display" (John Hilty, www.illinoiswildflowers.info). Individual flowerheads are about 1/4" across; they have 4-12 yellow ray florets, not all open at one time, and 8-15 yellow disk florets. The base of the flowerhead is surrounded by 3-4 series of overlapping, narrow, hairless, yellowish-green bracts (phyllaries) that together are 3-4 mm (1/16") long. The pedicels (flower stalks) are usually hairless, all attached on one side of the panicle's flowering branches and curving upward. The fruit is a cone-shaped dry seed 1-1.5 mm long with an attached tuft of light brown hairs 2.5-3.5 mm long. The combination of wing-like leaflets in the leaf axils, hairless stems and leaves, and an inflorescence whose flowering stems flare up and out is diagnostic for early goldenrod. Field goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) is much the same size and general appearance, but has hairy stems and leaves, unlike early goldenrod.

Solidago

Solidago juncea

early goldenrod [Blooms: Jul/Aug-?]

The wand-shaped, nodding inflorescence of field goldenrod arises from the tip of the stem; it is 3-7" long and widest in the middle, tapering towards either end; the flowerheads are all on one side of the flower branches. Flowerheads are each 1/4" across consisting of 4-10 yellow ray florets and 3-10 yellow disk florets. The bracts (phyllaries) surrounding the base of the flowerhead are in three overlapping series; they are pale greenish yellow, covered in short, white hairs. The fruit is a dry seed 0.5-2 mm long with an attached tuft of light brown hairs. Field goldenrod can be distinguished from other goldenrods by (1) its diminutive size, (2) the inflorescence that nods to one size, (3) leaflets present in leaf axils (4) short, fine hairs on both leaves and stems, and (5) the grayish cast of the leaves.

Solidago

Solidago nemoralis

field goldenrod [Blooms: Aug-Oct]

Showy goldenrod's inflorescence is a showy, cylindrical panicle up to 12" long arising from the tip of the stem; the flowering stems are erect or curve upwards and the flowerheads occur on all sides of the flowering stems. (Unlike most goldenrods, where the flowering stems curve outward and downward and the flowerheads are on one side of the flowering stems.) Each flowerhead is about 1/4" across consisting of 4-10 large (for a goldenrod) pistillate ray florets (no stamens) and 6-16 perfect disk florets (both stamens and style). Behind the flowerhead are 3-4 series of overlapping bracts (phyllaries), each with a prominent midvein. The fruit is a 2 mm long seed with dark brown longitudinal grooves and a tuft of light brown hairs. Showy goldenrod is distinguished from other goldenrods by the character combination of: (1) stem leaf margins smooth (not toothed), (2) wing-like leaflets in axils of upper leaves, (3) the stems of the inflorescence erect or curve upward (not out and down), and (4) stems and leaves largely or completely hairless except in the inflorescence.

Solidago

Solidago speciosa

showy goldenrod [Blooms: Jul-Oct]