Giant Goldenrod
Scientific Name: Solidago gigantea Aiton
Family: Asteraceae
MORPHOLOGY
Habit and Size: Perennial herbaceous plant with a taproot, reaching heights between 50 and 250 cm.
Stem: Hairy stem (velvety towards the inflorescence). Each plant produces 10 to 20 stems.
Leaves: Alternate and petiolate leaves. Lanceolate-linear shape (including the lower ones) with an acute apex and densely serrated margins, and three prominent veins on the underside. Both surfaces are glabrous; slightly velvety on the underside, especially along the veins. The lower leaves often wither at the first bloom. Leaf size: width 1-5 cm; length 8-15 cm.
Flowers: Inflorescences are terminal pedunculated capitula of the radiate type, grouped in unilateral racemes. Blooms from June to September.
Fruits and Seeds: The fruits are achenes with pappus.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Invasive alien species, cultivated for ornamental purposes and then naturalized, it is found throughout Italy except in Sardinia, Campania, Basilicata, and Apulia. It thrives in moist and ruderal environments, roadsides, and cultivated fields; grows between 0 and 800 m.
Photo: under free license from Saxifraga and Peter Meininger, Ab H Baas, Jan van der Straaten

















