Solidago virgaurea, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 110

1. S. virgaurea L. , Sp. Pl. 880 (1753)

(inch S', taurica Juz. ).

Stems 5-100 cm, arising from a short, stout stock, glabrous or pubescent. Leaves glabrous above, usually pubescent beneath, usually serrate; basal 2-10 cm, oblanceolate to obovate; cauline 5-30, decreasing in size upwards, linear-lanceolate to elliptical, acute. Inflorescence thyrsoid, or a panicle with ascending, racemose branches. Capitula not secund. Involucre 4-5-8 mm, greenish. Ligules 6-12, 4-9 mm. Tubular florets 10-30. Achenes c. 3 mm, pubescent; pappus c. 5 mm. 2zi=18. Almost throughout Europe. All except Az Cr Fa Is Sb Si.

The variant known as subsp. minuta (L.) Arcangeli, Comp. FI. Ital. 339 (1882) ( subsp. alpestris (Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd.) Hayek, S. lapponica With. , S. jailarum Juz. ), from the Arctic, the mountains of E., C. & N. Europe and some coastal localities in W. Europe, is 5-20 cm, with usually glabrous, rather coriaceous leaves and few large capitula usually in compact, spike-like racemes with the involucre 6-8 mm; it has 2n= 18. S. macrorrhiza Lange in Willk. & Lange, Prodr. FI. Hisp. 2: 39 (1865), from coastal localities in S.W. France and N.W. Spain, may also be referable to this subspecies.

Plants known as S. litoralis Savi , Due Cent. Piante Etrusc. 182 (1804), from Italy, and S. virgaurea subsp. centiflora Velen. , FI. Bulg. 278 (1891), from N. Bulgaria, have a dense, appressed, greyish indumentum and thick leaves. The status of these and other variants has yet to be satisfactorily resolved.