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Solidago glomerata

Michx.

Skunk Goldenrod

G3Vulnerable Found in 6 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155423
Element CodePDAST8P0R0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderAsterales
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusSolidago
Other Common Names
Clustered Goldenrod (EN) clustered 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.
Taxonomic Comments
Solidago glomerata is a polyploid (2n=108, 126) species (FNA 2006b).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-11-12
Change Date1992-12-23
Edition Date2024-11-12
Edition AuthorsMartinez, M. (1998), rev. C. Nordman (2024).
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Skunk Goldenrod (Solidago glomerata) occurs in eastern North America, in east Tennessee and western North Carolina, only at the highest elevations (mainly above 1500 meters) in the southern Appalachian Mountains. In Tennessee, it occurs from Sevier to Carter counties, and in North Carolina from Jackson to Watauga counties. There are estimated to be about 50 occurrences including within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, in a few North Carolina State Parks, and on National Forests. It is a clonal plant, genetic individuals may grow as patches with many basal rosettes and flowering stems. The total population size is unknown. Threats are likely low overall, but include the loss of habitat from tourism related development, including residential development.
Range Extent Comments
Skunk Goldenrod (Solidago glomerata) occurs in eastern North America, in east Tennessee and western North Carolina, only at the highest elevations (mainly above 1500 meters) in the southern Appalachian Mountains. In Tennessee, it occurs from Sevier to Carter counties, and in North Carolina from Jackson to Watauga counties. Range extent was estimated to be 9400 square kilometers, using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (FA 2006b, GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, LeGrand et al. 2024, SEINet 2024, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium records and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, there are estimated to be about 50 (and between 21 and 80) occurrences of Skunk Goldenrod (Solidago glomerata) rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats to Skunk Goldenrod (Solidago glomerata) are likely low overall, but include the loss of habitat from tourism related development, including residential development.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Skunk Goldenrod (Solidago glomerata) plants are clonal with many basal rosettes lacking stems. The leaves are typically mostly basal, flowering stem leaves are longer and larger than the stem leaves of similar Goldenrods. The involucres are 10-11 mm high, other Goldenrods have smaller involucres. The basal rosettes are evergreen, and are a conspicuous component of the winter flora at high elevations. The plants are skunky smelling, even without touching or bruising the plant (LeGrand et al. 2024, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).

Habitat

Skunk Goldenrod (Solidago glomerata) occurs in northern hardwood forests and openings, open spruce woods and thickets, spruce-fir forests, grassy or heath balds, exposed rocky slopes and outcrops, and damp areas such as seepages, in the Southern Appalachians at high elevations of 1500 to 2035 meters (FNA 2006b, LeGrand et al. 2024, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).

Ecology

Skunk Goldenrod (Solidago glomerata) has been observed to flower and fruit more along forest edges and in openings than in closed canopy high elevation forests (SEINet 2024).

Reproduction

Flowering and fruiting from mid-August to October (LeGrand et al. 2024, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest EdgeShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
TennesseeS2Yes
North CarolinaS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
1.3 - Tourism & recreation areasSmall (1-10%)Serious or 31-70% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (6)
North Carolina (6)
AreaForestAcres
Balsam ConePisgah National Forest10,591
BearwallowPisgah National Forest4,113
Craggy MountainPisgah National Forest2,657
Graveyard Ridge (addition)Pisgah National Forest1,958
Middle Prong AdditionPisgah National Forest1,852
Sam Knob (addition)Pisgah National Forest2,576
References (7)
  1. 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.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. 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.
  5. LeGrand, H., B. Sorrie, and T. Howard. 2024. Vascular Plants of North Carolina [Internet]. Raleigh (NC): North Carolina Biodiversity Project and North Carolina State Parks. Available from https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/index.php. (accessed 2024).
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  7. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.