(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
OTHER COMMON NAMES - GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE; GOLDENROD and SKUNK
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Angiosperm
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - MAGNOLIOPHYTA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - MAGNOLIOPSIDA,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - ASTERALES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - ASTERACEAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - SOLIDAGO,
SPECIES AND SSP - SPITHAMAEA,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - SOLIDAGO SPITHAMAEA
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Blue Ridge Goldenrod
Solidago spithamaea M.A. Curtis
KINGDOM: Plant GROUP: Angiosperm
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Asterales FAMILY: Asteraceae
Erect, caulescent herb arising from short, stout rhizomes or
branched caudices. Stems 1-4 dm tall, sparsely to densely pubescent,
or glabrate below. Leaves basal and cauline, simple, alternate,
elliptic to ovate, serrate, smooth to slightly scabrous above,
glabrous beneath, ciliate; the basal and lowermost cauline leaves
3-10 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, blade contracted to a winged petiole, the
cauline leaves progressively reduced, those near and above the middle
of the stem sessile. Flowers (florets) small and sessile in a compact
head on a common enlarged recepticle, collectively surrounded by an
involucre, each head appearing to be a single flower; secondary
inflorescence densely corymbiform. Heads relatively small, radiate;
involucre companulate, 3-6 mm long, 4-7 mm broad, its bracts imbricate
in several series, firm, glabrous, green tipped, rather narrow;
recepticle small, flat or slightly convex, naked. Ray flowers ca.
8 with at most 13, 2-4 mm long, the corolla ligulate, notched at the
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
apex, yellow, pistillate and fertile, disc flowers numerous, 20-60,
yellow, perfect and fertile, the corolla tubular, deeply 5-lobed, the
lobes almost as long as the tube, erect; calyx in both ray and disc
flowers represented by a pappus of bristles; stamens 5, syngenesious
(the anthers fused together to form a cylinder around the style),
exerted only slightly beyond the corolla tube; gynoecium of 1 compound
pistil, ovary inferior, carpels 2, locule 1, ovule 1, placentation
basal, style 1, exerted beyond the corolla, 2-branched at the apex.
Fruit a cypsela (achene or nutlet of some authors), 2.5-3 mm long,
subterete, several-nerved, pubescent; pappus of numerous, capillary,
upwardly barbellate bristles, 2.5-3.5 mm long, white. (slightly
modified from Massey et al. 1983) (02).
Solidago spithamaea is a distinctive species in a rather large,
difficult genus. It is one of only a few species in the genus having
a corymbiform inflorescence and yellow rays, and the only one
occurring at high elevations (modified from Massey et al. 1983) (02).
Aster spithamaeus is a nomenclatural variation assigned to this
species in the 1800's by the German taxonomist Kuntze (06). His
taxonomic variations are generally not accepted at the present time.
Specimens of this species are found at Harvard University,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State
University, University of Tennessee, University of Georgia, and
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. An exellent
illustration is in Massey et al. (02).
Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Status
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
North Carolina; State Listed
Tennessee; State Listed
T: Federal Threatened
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Blue Ridge goldenrod (Solidago spithamaea) has been
designated a Threatened species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act
of 1973 (50 CFR 17.12; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C.
1531-1540), as amended. The species has this status wherever found
including the States of NC and TN. Critical Habitat has not been
designated.
Removal and reduction to possession of any Federally listed plant
from an area under Federal jurisdiction is unlawful (50 CFR 17.61 and
17.71).
This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to possess
any wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts) within U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in 18 U.S.C.
7); or to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or
purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any wild plant (including
roots, seeds, and other parts) taken, possessed, transported, or sold
in violation of any State law or regulation. It is also unlawful to
import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any
wild plant (including roots, seeds, and other parts) taken or
possessed in violation of any U.S. law, treaty, or regulation or in
violation of Indian tribal law.
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
USFS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for management/recovery on Forest Service lands. The
Forest Service is responsible for integrating
management, protection, and conservation of Federally
listed species into the Forest Planning process
(36 CFR 219.19 and 219.20).
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: North Carolina
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Department of Agriculture (Plant
Conservation Program).
STATE STATUTE: North Carolina General Statute l96, 106-202.12 -
106-202.19
STATE: Tennessee
DESIGNATED STATUS: Threatened
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Tennessee Department of Conservation
(Division of Ecological Services).
STATE STATUTE: Tennessee Acts 1985, Chapter 242, Section 1,
11-26-201 through 214.
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
None.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
Solidago spithamaea (Blue Ridge goldenrod) has showy flowers,
but is not known to be commercially or privately cultivated.
75/07/01:40 FR 27823/ - Acceptance of Smithsonian report
80/12/15:45 FR 82480/ - Revised notice on review of status
84/01/20:49 FR 24850/ - 1-yr. petition finding
84/07/23:49 FR 29629/ - Proposal to list species as Threatened
85/03/28:50 FR 12306/12309 - Final rule listing species as Threatened
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTRY TYPES
SAF TYPE STAGE CLOSURE
White spruce balsam fir shrub--seedling
White spruce balsam fir young tree
White spruce balsam fir mature tree
White spruce balsam fir Old Growth
LAND USE -
Bare Exposed Rock
Evergreen Forest Land
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Solidago spithamaea occurs in crevices on high elevation rock
outcrops in the central region of the Southern Appalachians. The rock
outcrops are exposed, with no canopy cover. Two of the sites are open
to the strong, cold, winter northwesterlies. These sites experience
perhaps the most extreme winter conditions in North Carolina and
Tennessee. In the areas where these sites occur, there can be found a
high number of northern disjunct species; species found far south of
their main range. Many of these species are considered threatened in
North Carolina (03). Solidago spithamaea, at two of its three known
sites of occurrence, is also associated with a rare, high elevation
North Carolina endemic, Liatris helleri (Heller's gay-feather) (03),
as well as several other species which are candidates for Federal
listing, including Abies fraseri, Carex misera, Hedyotis montana, and
Geum radiatum (02).
Other species found at the sites where Solidago spithamaea
occurs, are stunted Picea rubens, Scirpus cespitosus, and
Leiophyllum buxifolium. Ground cover is usually 40-60 percent,
reduced from the higher natural cover in many places by trampling.
Plant height (1-4 dm) rarely exceeds 4 dm (03). Habitat surrounding
the sites can be characterized as Eastern Spruce/Fir forest.
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
AUTOTROPH
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges
G Terrestrial Features: Rock outcrops
G
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
HABIT:
Solidago spithamaea (Blue Ridge goldenrod) is herbaceous.
LIFE CYCLE:
Perennial (02).
TYPE OF REPRODUCTION:
Sexual (02).
REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY:
Leafing and budding occur in June, anthesis occurs from July to
September, and fruiting and seed dispersal occur from July to
October (02,03).
SEX OR SPORE STATUS:
Monoecious (04).
POLLINATION, SPORE AND SEED DISSEMINATION:
Seed dissemination is by wind (03).
SEED BIOLOGY:
Unknown.
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
Unknown.
ECOLOGICAL/EDAPHIC FACTORS:
No information available.
TROPHIC STATUS:
Phototrophic (02).
CHARACTERISTIC DOMINANCE:
Component (03). Solidago spithamaea is an early pioneer species
growing on rock ledges in full sun (05).
COMMUNITY ECOLOGY:
The plant community in which Solidago spithamaea occurs is an
open, high elevation community, with stunted and wind-shaped plants.
The species found in this community include Abies fraseri, Picea
rubens, Scirpus cespitosus, Leiophyllum buxifolium, and sometimes
Liatris helleri. The community can be considered stable. The
community is impacted by trampling and severe climatic conditions
(ice, wind, and drought) (03).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
No information available.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
No information available.
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Beneficial Land Acquisition
Beneficial Reforestation
Beneficial Restricting Timber Harvest
Beneficial Maintaining Sperm/Seed Banks
Adverse Low Gene Pool
Existing Low Gene Pool
Adverse Rock Climbing
Existing Rock Climbing
Adverse Hiking/Camping
Existing Hiking/Camping
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Recreational development
Existing Recreational development
Adverse Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
Existing Soil compaction by heavy equipment in mine areas
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Solidago spithamaea is restricted to high elevation rock
outcrops in the central region of the Southern Appalachians. Its
three extant populations are within a 15 mile radius. Because of the
few populations and the few number of individuals of the species,
totalling only a couple of thousand plants, this species is
intrinsically endangered. One population is presumed extirpated,
possibly by the development of a mountaintop for second homes and a
tourist attraction. Another site is being protected within the
boundaries of another tourist attraction. All of the extant
populations occur in areas popular for hiking and rock climbing, and
are threatened by trampling (03). Construction of new trails or other
recreational improvements could further adversely impact the species.
There are no future perceived threats to the species other than
those mentioned above (03).
UNAPPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1987. Blue Ridge Goldenrod
(Solidago spithamaea) Recovery Plan. Tech. Draft. U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, GA. 31 pp.
The target date for the final is FY 87.
Solidago spithamaea (Blue Ridge goldenrod), restricted to only
three sites on high summits in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North
Carolina and Tennessee, occurs in areas which are subject to
development and heavy recreational use. This includes trampling by
sight-seers, hikers, and rock climbers. Management actions
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
recommended for recovery include restriction and re-routing of
recreational use, restriction of development, timber harvest, and
herbicide use, maintenance of seed banks, land aquisition, and
habitat revegetation. In some heavily trampled areas, rehabilitation
of the fragile cliff-edge habitat may be necessary to forestall severe
erosion and further damage.
One of the two land owners involved has entered into a management
agreement with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for conservation
of this species. The other is currently developing property as a
commercial recreation facility (ski slopes) but has indicated a
willingness to work with the FWS and the State of North Carolina to
preserve the plant's habitat. Acquisition of easements, etc., may be
desirable/necessary.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species GOLDENROD, BLUE RIDGE
Species Id ESIS704015
Date 13 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 North Carolina Natural Heritage Database. 1986. Solidago
spithamaea (Blue Ridge goldenrod). Nat. Herit. Program, Dept. Nat.
Resour. and Community Develop., Raleigh, NC.
02 Massey J.R., et al. 1983. An atlas and illustrated guide to the
threatened and endangered vascular plants of the mountains of North
Carolina and Virginia. Gen. Tech. Rep. SE 20, Asheville, NC: U.S.
Dept. of Agric., For. Serv., Southeastern For. Exper. Station.
03 Plant Conservation Program. 1986. Plant Protection Section. Blue
Ridge goldenrod file. NC Dept. of Agric., Raleigh, NC.
04 Cronquist, A. 1980. Vascular flora of the southeastern United
States. Volume I. Asteraceae. Univ. of NC Press, Chapel Hill.
05 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. March 28, 1985. Endangered and
threatened wildlife and plants; Determination of threatened status
for Solidago spithamaea (Blue Ridge goldenrod). Fed. Reg.
50(60):12306-12309.
06 Kuntze, O. 1891. Revisiso generum plantarum. Pars. 1. Arthur
Felix, Leipzig, Germany.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Database. 1986. Solidago
spithamaea (Blue Ridge Goldenrod). Nat. Herit. Program, Dept. of
Nat. Resour. and Community Development, Raleigh, NC.
References - 1