SOLIDAGO ALTISSIMA

COMMON GOLDEN-ROD

Description:  Natural Order, Compositae.  Of the large genus solidago, this is one of the most abundant.  Stem two to four feet high, stiff, rough-hairy.  Leaves ovate-lanceolate, nearly sessile, coarsely toothed, feather-veined, thickish and sometimes wrinkled. Flowers in small heads, on panicled racemes, which spread sideways and form a brilliant yellow top to the stem.  Abundant through fields and copses.

SOLIDAGO RIGIDA is also frequent on sandy soils.  Stem three to six feet high, rough or somewhat hoary, stout, very leafy. Leaves thickish, oval, slightly serrated or entire, feather-veined from a strong midrib.  Flowers in rather large heads, with seven to ten yellow rays and a distinct disk; in a dense compound corymb.

Properties and Uses:  The leaves of these two plants, and probably most others of the golden-rods, are quite astringent, with mild tonic properties; and have been used in passive menorrhagia, and other forms of bleeding.  Externally, they have been commended for indolent and fungous ulcers, and also as an injection in foul leucorrhea.  The flowers make a brilliant yellow dye to silks and woolens.

SOLIDAGO ODORA, sweet-scented golden-rod, has a slender and often reclined stem two or three feet high, and is almost smooth. Leaves linear-lanceolate, smooth, shining, with pellucid dots.  Flowers in small heads with three or four rather large rays; in small, one-sided, panicled racemes.   The leaves are  fragrant, when crushed, with an odor similar to anise, and yield a volatile oil.    They are a pleasant aromatic relaxant, useful in colic, flatulence, nausea, and to disguise the taste of harsh medicines; and may be used freely by infusion.