Solidago kralii Semple

Solidago kralii is closely related to S. simplex, S. plumosa, and S. arenicola but occurs in a different habitat; it is much more copiously viscid-resinous than those species.

Plants 65–110 cm; rhizomes creeping. Stems 1–10(–50), ascending to erect, glabrous or sparsely strigillose, copiously viscid-resinous in arrays. Leaves: basal gradually tapering to winged petioles, blades oblanceolate, (25–)100–200 × (4–)15–28 mm, membranous, margins shallowly serrate apically (teeth less than 1 mm), finely ciliate, midnerves prominent, faces glabrous, viscid; rosettes present at flowering, at ends of elongated rhizomes, 1st leaves the smallest; proximal to mid cauline similar, sessile, blades linear-elliptic, quickly reduced; mid blades 40–80 × 6–9 mm, reduced distally, margins entire; distal sessile, blades linear-elliptic to linear, 10–35 × 1–3 mm, reduced in arrays. Heads 50–200 (1–15 per branch), in narrowly thyrsiform, paniculiform arrays, 9–30 × 4–5 cm, longer branches ascending, 2–10 cm. Peduncles sparsely strigillose, copiously resinous, naked proximally to bracteolate near heads; bracteoles usually 1–3. Involucres campanulate, 5–7 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, strongly unequal, apices obtuse, rounded to slightly cuspidate, ciliate, sparsely, finely strigose, obscured by exudate, copiously resinous; outer ovate (1.5–2 mm), mid narrowly ovate (3–4 × 1.5 mm), inner linear-lanceolate. Ray florets 3–5(–7); laminae 2.5–3.5 × 1–1.5 mm. Disc florets 10–16; corollas 5–6 mm, lobes 1–1.5(–1.8) mm. Cypselae fusiform to narrowly obconic, 3–5 mm, ribs 5–8, golden brown, darker than intercostal portions, thin, glabrous; pappi 4–5 mm (sometimes strongly clavate). 2n = 18.

Solidago kralii, common name Kral's goldenrod, is a North American plant species first described as a new species in 2003. It is found on sandy hills in oak-pine woodlands of Georgia and South Carolina.

Solidago kralii is an herb up to 110 cm (44 inches) tall, with dense resin hairs on the leaves. One plant can produce as many as 200 small yellow flower heads.

The species is named for American botanist Robert Kral.