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Solidago albopilosa

E.L. Braun

White-haired Goldenrod

G2Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.136367
Element CodePDAST8P010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusSolidago
Other Common Names
Rockhouse Goldenrod (EN) Whitehair Goldenrod (EN) whitehair goldenrod (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2021-11-17
Change Date1990-10-31
Edition Date2021-11-17
Edition AuthorsEdmondson, L. (1983), rev. L. Morse (2000), rev. A. Tomaino (2004), rev. W. Knapp (2021).
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent100-250 square km (about 40-100 square miles)
Number of Occurrences1 - 80
Rank Reasons
Solidago albopilosa is endemic to a single river gorge in Kentucky, U.S.A., and restricted within this narrow range to sheltered, cave-like "rockhouse" habitats which tend to receive intensive recreational use. Many populations have been severely damaged or extirpated by trampling. Major threats are trampling and digging by archaeological looters.
Range Extent Comments
Solidago albopilosa has narrow distribution and is known from only 3 counties in Kentucky: Menifee, Powell, and Wolf. The species is almost endemic to the Daniel Boone National Forest, in the Red River Gorge area.
Occurrences Comments
There are approximately 56 extant occurrences however there are likely many fewer populations than tracked occurrences. Pollinators are likely to carry pollen between nearby rockhouses and it is possible that all known occurrences are effectively one large population (Shea 1993).
Threat Impact Comments
The major threat to Solidago albopilosa is unintentional damage by visitors to its rockhouse habitat. Solidago albopilosa is threatened by trampling which damages the current year's growth, causes soil compaction, and can damage seeds as well as the underground rhizomes which may only be 1 to 2 cm beneath the soil surface (Shea 1993). S. albopilosa is also threatened by garbage dumping, fire-building, and digging by archeological looters (Shea 1993). Logging in the adjacent forest may have negative impacts by increasing light intensity, decreasing water availability, and allowing invasive species to invade and compete with S. albopilosa (Shea 1993). S. albopilosa is occasionally damaged by caterpillars but this is not a serious threat (Shea 1993). Dam construction on the Red River could impact this species but apparently, this project is inactive. Though S. albopilosa is located above the pool-line of the proposed dam, alterations to temperature and humidity associated with dam construction could be significantly impact the species. As of 2018, approximately 20 sites with heavy recreational use were fenced. Plants have been recovering and filling in old paths; however, nonnative invasive plant species, especially Microstegium vimineum, continue to be a problem. Some sites are weeded on a regular basis (D. Taylor, pers. comm., 2018).
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Solidago albopilosa is in the group of goldenrods with cauline leaves and axillary inflorescences (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). S. albopilosa is distinguished from most other Solidago in this group by the long, soft, white hairs that cover the leaves, stems, and fruit, by the number of rays, 3-5 (vs. 6-18), and by the relatively broad width of the leaf blade, 1 to 2.5 times as long as wide (vs. relatively narrow, 2.5 to 10 times as long as wide) (Gleason and Cronquist 1991). S. flexicaulis is quite similar to S. albopilosa (Esselman and Crawford 1997); however, S. albopilosa is shorter, has smaller, thinner leaves, and denser hairs (USFWS 1992). In addition, S. albopilosa is restricted to rockhouses, whereas S. flexicaulis occurs on the forest floor (USFWS 1992). For a technical description see Gleason and Cronquist (1991).

Habitat

Solidago albopilosa occupies shallow, sandstone cave-like structures called rockhouses and beneath overhanging sandstone ledges where the plants root in loose sand and soil-filled crevices. Plants are usually found in partial shade behind the drip line; not in the furthest depths of rockhouses or in full sun (Shea 1993). Rarely, plants occur on rock ledges or in the sandy soil along the side of a trail (FWS 1992). The surrounding forest is mixed mesophytic deciduous forest (Shea 1993).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - HardwoodForest EdgeBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
KentuckyS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource usePervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingPervasive - largeUnknownHigh (continuing)
6 - Human intrusions & disturbancePervasive - largeSerious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
6.1 - Recreational activitiesPervasive - largeSerious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7 - Natural system modificationsPervasive - largeSerious or 31-70% pop. declineModerate - low
7.2 - Dams & water management/usePervasive - largeSerious or 31-70% pop. declineModerate - low
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive - largeSerious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive - largeSerious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.4 - Garbage & solid wasteLarge (31-70%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
References (11)
  1. Esselman, E.J., and D.J. Crawford. 1997. Molecular and morphological evidence for the origin of <i>Solidago albopilosa </i>(Asteraceae), a rare endemic of Kentucky. Systematic Botany 22: 245-257.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2006b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 20. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae, part 7: Asteraceae, part 2. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxii + 666 pp.
  3. Francis, W. 2001. Rock climbing is damaging cliff-dwelling plants in the Red River Gorge. The Cumberland 34(12): 1, 4.
  4. Gleason, H.A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York. 910 pp.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. Lowe, D.W., J.R. Matthews, and C.J. Moseley, eds. 1990. The official World Wildlife Fund guide to endangered species of North America. Beacham Publishing, Washington, D.C. 1180 pp.
  7. Shea, M. 1993. Recovery plan for white-haired goldenrod (<i>Solidago albopilosa</i>). Southeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, Georgia.
  8. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1988. Determination of threatened status for <i>Solidago albopilosa</i> (white-haired goldenrod). Federal Register 53(67): 11612-11615.
  9. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1992. February last update. White-haired goldenrod (<i>Solidago albopilosa</i>) Species Account. Endangered and threatened species of the southeastern United States (The Red Book), FWS Region 4. Online. Available: http://endangered.fws.gov/i/q/saq4t.html (accessed 12 August 2004).
  10. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2015. Removal of <i>Solidago albopilosa </i>(white-haired goldenrod) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Federal Register 80(169): 52717-52732. 
  11. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2016. Removal of <i>Solidago albopilosa</i> (White-haired Goldenrod) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants. Final rule and notice of availability of final post-delisting monitoring plan. Federal Register 81(196): 70043-70059.