Roundleaf Goldenrod

Solidago patula is readily recognized by the angled stem and the sharkskin-like texture of the adaxial surface of the leaves.

Plants 50–150 cm; caudices short, rhizomes creeping, elongate, thin to thick. Stems 1–3+, erect (angu-lar in cross section, sometimes winged on angles), glabrous or sparsely hairy in arrays. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline abruptly narrowed to long, winged petioles, blades broadly ovate, 100–300 × 40–100 mm, relatively thick, margins serrate, apices acute, abaxially glabrous, adaxially scabrous; distal cauline sessile, blades lanceolate, 50–80 × 15–20 mm, gradually reduced distally, subentire. Heads 25–200, secund, in open, lax, secund, pyramidal, paniculiform arrays, branches ascending to recurved, often elongate with recurved ends. Peduncles 1–4 mm, sparsely hispido-strigose, bracteoles 2–5, lanceolate, grading into phyllaries distally. Involucres 3–4.5 mm. Phyllaries (10–12) in 3–4 series, ovate to linear-ovate, unequal, obtuse. Ray florets 5–12; laminae 1.5–1.7 × 0.5 mm. Disc florets 5–15; corollas 2.8–3 mm, lobes 0.6–1.5 mm. Cypselae (sometimes mottled) 1.5–2 mm, strigillose; pappi 2–3 mm.

Solidago patula, the roundleaf goldenrod or rough-leaved goldenrod, is a species of goldenrod found in wetlands, especially swamps, fens, and sedge meadows. It is native to most of the eastern United States, as far west as Wisconsin and Texas. It is a perennial herb. There are two subspecies.