West Coast or Cascade Canada goldenrod

Solidago canadensis Linnaeus subsp. elongata (Nuttall) D. D. Keck; S. caurina Piper; S. elongata var. microcephala Kellogg; S. lepida de Candolle var. caurina (Piper) M. Peck; S. lepida var. elongata (Nuttall) Fernald

Plants 25–150 cm; rhizomes short to long creeping, forming few- to many-stemmed clones. Stems 1–20+, erect, proximally sparsely to moderately strigoso-villous, distally usually moderately to densely so. Leaves: basal 0; proximal cauline sessile, blades narrowly to broadly oblanceolate, 35–75(–100) × (6–)7.5–14(–20) mm, proximal much smaller, tapering to bases, margins subentire or finely serrulate to coarsely, sharply serrate (teeth 0–9 per side), ciliate, 3-nerved, sometimes obscurely so, apices acute, abaxial faces glabrate to sparsely short-strigose, adaxial glabrous; mid to distal cauline sessile, blades oblanceolate, becoming lanceolate distally, 20–60 × 4–8(–11) mm, largest near mid stem, somewhat to much reduced distally, margins entire or finely serrulate, rarely serrate (teeth 1–8 per side), usually becoming entire to sparsely serrulate distally, ciliate, apices acute, faces glabrous or sparsely strigoso-villous, more so along abaxial nerves. Heads 12–500+, sometimes secund, in short to long, thyrsiform or narrowly secund-pyramidal paniculiform arrays, usually congested, club-shaped to rarely wand-shaped, (2.5–) 10–20 × (2–)4–8(–10) cm, branches usually ascending or sometimes arching spreading. Peduncles 2–7 mm, sparsely to moderately short strigoso-villous; bracteoles 1–3 , linear, rarely minutely stipitate-glandular. Involucres narrowly campanulate, 2.5–3.5(–4) mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, strongly unequal, margins sparsely long ciliate, acute, faces glabrous, rarely sparsely minutely stipitate-glandular; outer lanceolate, inner linear-lanceolate. Ray florets (8–)11–15(–17); laminae 1–2.5 × 0.1–0.4(–0.7) mm. Disc florets (3–)5–11(–16); corollas 2.6–3.7(–4) mm, lobes 0.5–1.2 mm. Cypselae (narrowly obconic) 1–1.5 mm, sparsely to moderately strigose; pappi 2.5–3.3 mm. 2n = 18, 36.

Flowering Aug–Oct. Sandy, gravelly soils, coastal headlands, thickets, open woods, meadows, along streams and creeks; 0–2800 m; Calif., Oreg., Wash.; Mexico (Baja California).

In California, coastal plants of Solidago elongata often have thicker leaves; those of the Sierras are often membranous and obscurely triple-nerved. This species can be similar to S. lepida, which usually has much larger distal cauline leaves.