Loading profile. Please wait . . .
Solidago simulans Fern.
Granite Dome Goldenrod
Federal Protection: No US federal protection
State Protection: Endangered
Global Rank: G2
State Rank: S1
Element Locations Tracked in Biotics: Yes
SWAP 2015 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
SWAP 2025 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): Yes
2025 SGCN Priority Tier: Highest Conservation Concern
Element Occurrences (EOs) in Georgia: 4
Habitat Summary for element in Georgia: Seepy granite domes; cliffs
Perennial herb with a reddish, fairly stout stem 1.3 - 3 feet (40 - 100 cm) tall. The basal leaves are 4 - 12 inches (10 - 30 cm) long and 0.3 - 3 inches (0.7 - 8 cm) wide, with pointed tips, tapering bases, toothed margins, and clasping, sheathing leaf stalks; the widely spaced stem leaves are similar but much smaller and lack leaf stalks; none of the leaves are thick or rubbery in texture. The flower cluster is roughly cylindrical (rarely one-sided), composed of many small flower heads on short branches that arise in the angle between upper leaves and stem. Flower heads are 0.3 inch (8 mm) high, with usually 3 (2 - 7) small, yellow ray flowers, unevenly spaced around usually 8 (6 - 16) tiny, yellow disk flowers; the lower half of the head has several series of tiny, green bracts forming an involucre less than 0.3 inch (8 mm) high. Fruits are about 0.1 inch (3 mm) long, dry, seed-like, hairy.
Solidago simulans is in a group of goldenrod species characterized by abundant basal leaves and elongated, but not one-sided, inflorescences. Within this group, Solidago simulans is distinguished by an involucre less than 8 mm high; fresh leaves not thick or rubbery; vegetative parts without minute sticky glands; stem leaves without stalks; and basal leaf stalks that clasp and sheath the stem. It is the only goldenrod in this group that occurs on high-elevation, seepy, rocky summits and domes in the Southern Appalachians.
Six species of Solidago are rare in Georgia:
Solidago arenicola (Black Warrior Goldenrod) occurs in bouldery and cobbled riversides in northwest Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=34012
Solidago georgiana (Georgia Goldenrod) occurs in sandhills in east Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=374034
Solidago porteri (Porter's Goldenrod) occurs in oak savannas, dry oak-pine woodlands, woodland edges, and disturbed areas in these habitats in the Piedmont. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=22343
Solidago simulans (Cliffside Goldenrod) occurs on seepy granite domes and high-elevation cliffs in northeast Georgia. For more information, see: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.org/portal/profile?group=plants&es_id=17265
Solidago uliginosa var. uliginosa (Bog Goldenrod) occurs in mountain bogs in northeast Georgia. For more information, see: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250067581
Solidago ulmifolia var. ulmifolia (Elmleaf Goldenrod) occurs in rocky mafic woodlands and calcareous glades in northwest Georgia. For more information, see: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242417300
Thin soil mats in seeps on granite domes and rocky mountain summits; bases and ledges of seepy, high-elevation cliffs; occurs with Twisted Hair Spike-moss (Selaginella tortipila), Mountain Dwarf Dandelion (Krigia montana), and Blue Ridge St. John’s-wort (Hypericum buckleii), see account on this website: https://www.georgiabiodiversity.a2hosted.com/natels/profile?es_id=21435.
Cliffside Goldenrod is a perennial herb that reproduces sexually by seed. Like most members of the composite family, its flower heads contain ray and disk flowers. The ray flowers are fertile, female only, and capable of producing seeds; the disk flowers are bisexual (having both female and male parts) and are also fertile and capable of producing seeds. No pollination studies have been published on Cliffside Goldenrod, but goldenrods are typically pollinated by a wide variety of insects including bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, and wasps. Small, barbed bristles are attached to the top of the fruits and aid in seed dispersal by clinging to fur and feathers.
A recent study on the potential effect of one predicted climate change effect – decreased cloud immersion at high elevations – on two Southern Appalachian species found that Cliffside Goldenrod has the ability to adapt to reduced cloud cover by making more efficient use of available water.
Surveys are best conducted during flowering (August–September).
Southern Appalachians of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Construction of homes and roads near summits and ridgelines. Trampling by hikers and climbers. Severe rainstorms that dislodge plants. Invasion by exotic pest plants brought in as seeds on hikers' boots.
| Threat 1 | Threat 2 | Threat 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Threat | Residential & commercial development | Human intrusions & disturbance | Agriculture & aquaculture |
| Specific Threat | None | None | None |
Solidago simulans is ranked S1 by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, indicating that the species is critically imperiled in Georgia. Four populations have been documented in Georgia; all occur in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Limit access to the populations by hikers and rock climbers. Protect summits and ridges from construction, development, and logging. Monitor plants yearly for invasion by exotic pest plants and after severe storms that could dislodge plants. Survey other potential habitats.
Chafin, L.G. 2007. Field guide to the rare plants of Georgia. State Botanical Garden of Georgia and University of Georgia Press, Athens.
Cronquist, A. 1980. Vascular flora of the southeastern United States, Vol. 1, Asteraceae. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill.
Culatta, K.E. and J.L. Horton. 2014. Physiological response of Southern Appalachian high-elevation rock outcrop herbs to reduced cloud immersion. Castanea 79(3): 182-194. https://doi.org/10.2179/14-014
Horton, J.L. and K.E. Culatta. 2016. Physiological characteristics of Southern Appalachian high-elevation rock outcrop herbs on clear and cloudy days. Castanea 81(4): 270-279.
NatureServe. 2020. Solidago simulans species account. NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130319/Solidago_simulans
Semple, J.C. 2019. Solidago simulans. Astereae Lab, University of Waterloo, Ontario. https://uwaterloo.ca/astereae-lab/research/goldenrods/classification-and-illustrations/solidago-simulans
Semple, J.C., T. Shea, H. Rahman, Y. Ma, and L. Tong. 2019. A multivariate morphometric analysis of the Solidago uliginosa complex (Asteraceae: Astereae; S. subsect. Maritimae) in eastern North America. Phytoneuron 48: 1-44. https://tinyurl.com/y8b4ya4q
Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-Atlantic States. University of North Carolina Herbarium, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. http://www.herbarium.unc.edu/flora.htm
Linda G. Chafin
L. Chafin, Aug. 2008: original account
K. Owers, Feb. 2010: added pictures
L. Chafin, May 2020: updated original account
