Eared Goldenrod

Solidago auriculata was not listed for Oklahoma (C. E. Taylor and R. J. Taylor 1984).

Plants 40–150 cm; rhizomes short, stout or caudices. Stems 1(–3), ascending to erect, velutinous or loosely hirsutulous. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline petioles winged (narrowly so in proximalmost), to 10 cm, bases flared, auriculate-clasping (at least in proximalmost), blades broadly ovate, 35–120 × 30–70 mm, bases cordate, margins serrate, adaxial faces glabrate or sparsely finely scabrous or finely strigose, abaxial pilose on nerves; mid cauline similar to proximal, petioles shorter, broadly winged, strongly auriculate-clasping; distal sessile, blades ovate, 20–40 × 10–20 mm, bases winged, narrowed, auriculate-clasping, becoming ovate and cordate-clasping in arrays, reduced to 10 mm. Heads 50–100 , secund, in paniculiform arrays, branches relatively few, short to elongated and arching. Peduncles 1–3 mm; bracteoles linear-lanceolate, minute, grading into phyllaries. Involucres campanulate, 3–4(–5) mm. Phyllaries in 2–3 series, lanceolate, strongly unequal, acute to attenuate, sparsely short strigose. Ray florets 1–3; laminae 1–2 × 0.5–0.75 mm. Disc florets 4–8; corollas 3–3.5 mm, lobes ca. 1 mm. Cypselae 2–2.5 mm, distinctly ribbed, short-strigose; pappi ca. 2 mm (bristles in 2 weak series, shorter than cypsela bodies, inner weakly clavate). 2n = 18.

Solidago amplexicaulis Torrey & A. Gray ex Chapman, Fl. South. U.S., 213. 1860, not M. Martens 1841; S. notabilis Mackenzie ex Small

Solidago auriculata, commonly called clasping goldenrod or eared goldenrod, is a species of flowering plant native to the southeastern and south-central United States from South Carolina west as far as eastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma. It has a patchy distribution and is mostly found in rocky forests over calcareous rocks, although it can be along streams.

Solidago auriculata is a perennial plant up to 150 cm (5 feet) tall, spreading by means of underground rhizomes. One plant produces sometimes as many as 100 small yellow flower heads in late summer and fall.