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Plant Profile

Ouachita Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago ouachitensis)

A closeup of the yellow aster flowers of the Ouachita mountain goldenrod. Photo Credit: Casey Galvin

Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Asteraceae
State: AR, OK
Nature Serve ID: 130318
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/15/1995

Description:

Solidago ouachitensis has only been collected four times since it was first collected by G. W. Stevens in 1913. During cooler, moister times this goldenrod species was likely more widespread, but is now restricted to a narrow range within the Ouachita Mountains and is thought to be a relict of the last ice age. This goldenrod is a perennial herb that grows from two to four feet tall, producing yellow flower heads with one ray flower during the months of September and October. The Ouachita goldenrod has leaves with no stalk, the midstem leaves being coarsely toothed and larger than the few basal leaves. (USFS 2002; USFWS 1992)

Where is Ouachita Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago ouachitensis) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Moist, well-drained, gravelly soils in shaded, north-facing slopes that are significantly cooler during the hot summer weather than less shaded areas. (Taylor & Taylor 1986)Canopy associates include: Magnolia tripetala, Fagus grandifolia, Acer rubrum, and Quercus rubra. Ground associates include: Aesculus glabra, Asarum canadense, Campanula americana, Panax quinquefolium, Toxicodendron radicans, and Hybanthus concolor.

Distribution:

S. ouachitensis occurs in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. The goldenrod can be found in Polk and Montgomery counties in Arkansas, and in LeFlore county in Oklahoma. (Taylor & Tay

States & Provinces:

Ouachita Mountain Goldenrod can be found in Arkansas, Oklahoma

Which CPC Partners conserve Ouachita Mountain Goldenrod (Solidago ouachitensis)?

Missouri Botanical Garden

Not Sponsored

Assigned 06/09/17

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Solidago ouachitensis is endemic to the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma and is known from fewer than thirty occurrences. The goldenrod is found in very mesic forests on north-facing slopes of the mountains. The populations located in Mt. Nebo State Park in Arkansas are currently protected under Arkansas State Park regulations and other populations probably receive protection due to their occurrence on north-facing slopes in the Ouachita National Forest.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Because this species is already found in a very narrow habitat range, anything that decreases the size of its suitable habitat could threatened its continued survival. This could include loss of habitat due to development as well as global warming.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Occurs within two counties in Arkansas, a very small number of plants occur in Oklahoma. (Taylor & Taylor 1986)

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

None known.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

None known.

Kimberlie McCue, Ph.D.

01/01/2010

Survey for additional populations Study species biology/life history Seed germination studies needed