Solidago nitida
Asteraceae
alternate, basal (rosulate)
sessile
entire
simple
linear, lanceolate, oblanceolate
forb
white, yellow
July
0.4 - 1.2
No
Unarmed
native
perennial
Warm season
7
Similar to Solidago tortifolia and Solidage odora which also have narrow leaves. They can be differentiated by their inflorescence which is flat topped in Oligoneuron nitidum, and longer than wide in S. tortifolia and S. odora. Also Solidago odora is fragrant and the leaves are crowded in the head of S. tortifolia. Euthamia leptocephala, E. gymnospermoides, and E. tenuifolia have yellow flat-topped inflorescences but have leaves that are half or less as long as those of O. nitidum and the reduction in length of the upper leaves is less pronounced.
Propagation by seed is best and fresh seed germinates easily. Steffen (1979) recommends cold/moist stratification, possiably due to dormancy induced by long term storage.
The following information is for the genus Solidago with notation that available records are concentrated in the East: Animals that eat the plant: White-tailed deer. Animals that eat its leaves: Greater prairie chicken, Beaver, Eastern cottontail rabbit, Mearns cottontail rabbit, Swamp rabbit. Animals that eat its seeds: Common goldfinch, Junco, Swamp sparrow, Tree sparrow, Animals that eat its seeds and leaves: Meadow mouse, Pine mouse, Wood rat (Martin et al. 1951). Is unimportant as cattle forage.
All of the goldenrods were called "verge d'or" by the Acadians of south Louisiana (Holmes 1990). Solidago nitida inhabits dry upland sites in prairie and pineywoods. It is found in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Open sandy places.