Cutler's Alpine Goldenrod

Solidago leiocarpa is similar to and possibly conspecific with S. multiradiata. It has long been treated as S. cutleri in regional floras.

Plants 5–35 cm; caudices branching, roots fibrous. Stems 1–5+, ascending to erect, hirtellous-puberulent in arrays. Leaves: basal and proximal cauline petiolate, tapering; blades spatulate to oblanceolate, 20–150 × 5–40 mm, margins ciliate, serrate crenate, apices acute to rounded, faces glabrous; distal usually 2–5, sessile, blades sometimes ± clasping, oblanceolate, 20–40 × 4–9 mm, distally reduced and becoming broadly to narrowly lanceolate, margins entire, apices acute to obtuse. Heads 2–50(–160) in compact corymbiform arrays in smaller plants, corymbiform to paniculiform arrays in larger ones. Peduncles 5–6 mm, moderately hispidulo-strigillose; bracteoles 0–1, linear-lanceolate. Involucres broadly campanulate, 5–7.5 mm. Phyllaries unequal, outer (lengths ¹ / 2 inner) deltate, acute, inner lanceolate, obtuse. Ray florets 6–15; laminae 2–4 × 1–2 mm. Disc florets 12–35; corollas 4–5.5 mm, lobes 1–2 mm. Cypselae 1–2.5 mm, strigose; pappi 3–5 mm. 2n = 36.

Solidago cutleri Fernald; S. virgaurea Linnaeus var. alpina Bigelow

Solidago leiocarpa, common name Cutler's alpine goldenrod, is a plant species native to mountainous portions of Québec, northern New England, and northern New York State. It is generally found at elevations over 800 m (2400 feet).

Solidago leiocarpa is closely related to the more widespread S. multiradiata, distinguished by the shape of the phyllaries surrounding the flower heads. Solidago leiocarpais a perennial herb up to 35 cm (14 inches) tall. One plant can have as many as 160 small yellow flower heads in a flat-topped or conical array.