Velvety Goldenrod

Solidago mollis is quite variable in array shape, which ranges from compact club-shaped to elongate pyramid-shaped, the apex leaning to one side. Plants with narrower, more sparsely strigose leaves that are similar in appearance to those of S. radula but are not scabrous have been treated as var. angustata Shinners. Those occur in Oklahoma and Texas. G. L. Nesom (1993b) discussed the possible conspecificity of S. mollis and S. velutina (including S. sparsiflora and S. californica); this does not appear to be justified based on morphology and habitat differences.

Plants loosely clustered, 10–50 (–70) cm; rhizomes creeping. Stems 1 (at ends of rhizomes), ascending to erect, grayish green, moderately to densely finely strigilloso-puberulent. Leaves: basal and proximal often withering by flowering, gradually tapering to winged petioles ¹ / 2 length of leaf, blades 45–100 × 10–35 mm, proximalmost much smaller, margins serrate, faces moderately finely scabroso-strigillose; mid and distal cauline sessile, blades elliptic to lanceolate or ovate, 10–60 × 4–20 mm, sometimes much reduced distally, firm, thickish, margins serrate to entire, strongly 3-nerved or sometimes brochidodromous, faces moderately finely strigillose. Heads (5–)50–300, in compact thyrsiform to secund-pyramidal paniculiform arrays, proximal branches ascending, sometimes apically recurved or branches spreading, recurved, secund. Peduncles 0.5–3 mm, moderately to densely finely hispiduloso-strigillose; bracteoles 0–3 , lanceolate, strigillose, grading into phyllaries. Involucres campanulate, 3–6 mm. Phyllaries in 3–4 series, lanceolate to oblong (to 1.5 mm wide), strongly unequal, margins ciliate, apices acute to obtuse, glabrous. Ray florets 6–10; laminae 1–2 × 0.2–0.6 mm. Disc florets 3–8; corollas 2.4–3.8 mm, lobes 0.7–1.2 mm. Cypselae (cylindro-obconic) 1.5–2 mm, sparsely strigillose; pappi ca. 2–3 mm. 2n = 18, 36, 54.

Doria incana (Torrey & A. Gray) Lunell; D. mollis (Bartling) Lunell; Solidago incana Torrey & A. Gray; S. mollis var. angustata Shinners; S. nemoralis Aiton var. incana (Torrey & A. Gray) A. Gray; S. nemoralis var. mollis (Bartling) A. Gray

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Solidago mollis is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names velvety goldenrod, soft goldenrod or Ashly goldenrod. It is native to the central United States and central Canada, primarily the Great Plains from the Canadian Prairie Provinces south as far as Texas and New Mexico.

Solidago mollis is a perennial herb up to 70 cm (2.3 ft) tall with creeping rhizomes. Leaves are egg-shaped or lance shaped, up to 10 cm (4 in) long, covered with soft, fine hairs. One plant can produce as many as 300 small yellow flower heads in a branching array at the top of the plant.