Goldenrod Trio Traditional Cache

Goldenrod Trio

Elm-leaved Goldenrod, Showy Goldenrod and Blue-stemmed Goldenrods, in order on your left, as you come from the road to GZ . That's as close to an ID as I can get, under "elm-branched", "clublike" and "wandlike", in that order.

Elm-leaved Goldenrod

This woodland goldenrod has a terminal inflorescence that is rather lanky and spreading, while its lower leaves are lanceolate-ovate and coarsely serrated (superficially resembling the leaves of American Elm, but more narrow and thin-textured).

Elm-Leaved Goldenrod is similar in appearance to Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), but the latter has lower leaves with 3 parallel veins (a central vein and two lateral veins). Canada Goldenrod also has more hairy leaves and stems, and the major branches of its panicles are usually less divergent than those of Elm-Leaved Goldenrod. Other goldenrods (Solidago spp.) can be distinguished by some combination of characteristics involving the appearance of their leaves, stems, or inflorescences.

Showy Goldenrod

As the common and scientific names imply, this plant is very showy while in bloom.

Showy Goldenrod can be distinguished from other goldenrods by the following characteristics, when they are considered together: 1) the flowering stems of the inflorescence are held erect or curve upward, rather than outward and downward; 2) both the stems and leaves are hairless, or nearly so; 3) there are often smaller wing-like leaves in the upper axils of the primary leaves, particularly in the upper half of the central stem, and 4) the leaves lack teeth.

Blue-stemmed Goldenrod

This distinctive goldenrod is both elegant and shade-tolerant. Of the many goldenrod species that occur in Illinois, only two species produce primarily axillary clusters of flowers: Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia) and Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis).

Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod is typically found in upland woodlands, while Zigzag Goldenrod is more often found in lowland woodlands. Zigzag Goldenrod has much wider leaves (exceeding 1¼" across) that are ovate and coarsely serrated; the leaves of this latter species have petioles, while the leaves of Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod are sessile. Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod sometimes develops glaucous stems that are blue-gray or burgundy-gray, while the stems of Zigzag Goldenrod are consistently green.

The cache is a tied in, camoed, small, "small" pill bottle. Push hard to turn the lid, both to open and close. Please BYOP and put back as you found it, with a rubber band around the log and the plastic bag zipped tight. Please remark in your log if there's a problem.

You can park off Mt. Pleasant Rd., next to the St. Johnswort cache.