Description: This native perennial
plant is about 2-3' tall and unbranched, except for the flowering stalks near
the apex. Missouri Goldenrod produces both flowering and non-flowering shoots.
The central stem is light green to dark red, terete (round in circumference),
and hairless; the lower portion of this stem may become slightly woody with
age. The alternate leaves are up to 5" long and ¾" across, becoming
smaller as they ascend the central stem. They are narrowly lanceolate, narrowly
oblanceolate, or elliptic in shape, and serrated along their margins. Each leaf
usually has 3 parallel veins (a central vein & 2 lateral ones) and tapers
to a petiole-like base; however, on some upper leaves, only the central vein
may be prominent. Both the upper and lower sides of each leaf are hairless.
From the axils of the middle to upper leaves, short secondary stems may develop
with tufts of alternate leaves; these secondary stems often fail to produce
flowers. A panicle of yellow flowerheads develops at the apex of fertile
shoots, spanning up to 6" long and 4" across. This panicle has recurved
flowering stalks that are either hairless or hairy. Each flowerhead is about
1/8" across; it consists of several yellow disk florets that are surrounded by
about 6-12 ray florets. At the base of each flowerhead, there are green to
yellowish green floral bracts in an overlapping series; these tiny bracts are
linear-oblong. The blooming period usually occurs from mid-summer to early fall
and lasts about a month for a colony of plants. Each floret is replaced by a
bullet-shaped achene with a small tuft of white hairs; distribution of the
achenes is by wind. The root system produces fibrous roots and rhizomes; some
older plants may produce a small caudex. Missouri Goldenrod reproduces
vegetatively by offsets and sexually by seeds; it often forms sizable
vegetative colonies in which only the outer shoots are fertile and produce
flowers. The inner shoots of such colonies are infertile and usually smaller in
size.
Cultivation: The preference is
full sun to partial sun, mesic to dry conditions, and soil that contains loam,
clay-loam, or rocky material. Like many goldenrods, this species is easy to
grow; it spreads less aggressively than Solidago canadensis (Canada
Goldenrod).
Range & Habitat:
Missouri Goldenrod occurs occasionally in most areas of Illinois (see
Distribution
Map). Habitats include mesic to dry black soil prairies, dolomite prairies,
hill prairies, limestone glades, prairie remnants along railroads, and
thickets. It can be found in both degraded and higher quality habitats.
Faunal
Associations: Small bees, wasps, flies, and beetles visit the
flowers for nectar and/or pollen, including Chauliognathus pennsylvanica
(Goldenrod Soldier Beetle) and Epicauta pensylvanica (Black Blister
Beetle). Many grasshopper species feed on the foliage of Missouri Goldenrod
(see Grasshopper Table),
as do the leaf beetles Microrhopala vittata, Trirhabda borealis,
Trirhabda canadensis, Trirhabda convergens, and Trirhabda
virgata. The caterpillars of many moth species feed on this and other
goldenrods (see Moth
Table). Other insect feeders include stink bugs, plant bugs, the larvae of
small flies (Tephritidae), thrips, and the leafhopper Paraphlepsius
solidaginis.The Greater Prairie Chicken eats the foliage, while the Eastern
Goldfinch and various sparrows eat the seeds to a minor extent. Although
goldenrods are not a preferred food source, the White-Tailed Deer, Cottontail
Rabbit, and livestock eat the foliage occasionally. Prairie Voles and Meadow
Voles eat both the seedheads and foliage.
Photographic Location: The Buffalo Trace Prairie at
Lake-of-the-Woods, Champaign County, Illinois.
Comments: This is one of the goldenrods that has
high fidelity to prairies, although it is less common in Illinois than it used
to be. Missouri Goldenrod is rather variable and can be difficult to
distinguish from other Solidago spp. (Goldenrods). It blooms later than
Solidago juncea (Early Goldenrod), but either earlier or about the same
time as Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod). Like Early Goldenrod,
Missouri Goldenrod has hairless foliage, but its lower leaves have 3
conspicuous parallel veins. The leaves of Missouri Goldenrod often become much
smaller as they ascend the central stem (particularly on sterile shoots), while
the ascending leaves of Early Goldenrod decrease only slightly in size. Unlike
Canada Goldenrod, Missouri Goldenrod has hairless leaves and stems. Another
similar species, Solidago gigantea (Giant Goldenrod), is taller than
Missouri Goldenrod, blooms later in the year, and its leaves decrease in size
only slightly as they ascend the central stem.