Biosystematic studies on the goldenrod genus solidago and related astereae

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Goldenrods in the genus Solidago are very common wild flowers, often locally abundant, and occur in every province and state in Canada and the United States and in parts of Mexico, South America, Europe and Eastern Asia. A few species have been introduced into many parts of the world and are sometimes invasive aliens. The primary focus of the proposed research will be to complete individual studies on the morphology and biogeography of different groups of goldenrods and combine these with previous research into a book on the goldenrods of the world. Many kinds of goldenrods are very rare; some are officially listed as threatened or endangered. Other goldenrods are so widely distributed and abundant that they are considered to be obnoxious weeds on agricultural lands. Goldenrods are often studied by ecologists and evolutionary biologists as models for more general questions on insect/plant relationships. However, no detailed monographic level taxonomic treatment of the entire genus has been published. Some species have never been illustrated in detail and no detailed distribution maps are available. Existing treatments in regional floras are not consistent in reporting the numbers of species nor in how to recognize them. The applicant has spent more than three decades investigating goldenrods, the related goldenasters, and asters and was the primary author of the treatment of Solidago for Flora North America (2006). The proposed research will expand on this taxonomic treatment to include all goldenrods occurring outside Canada and the United States. The resulting highly illustrated monograph will provide large numbers of people with a sorely needed standard reference on goldenrods upon which regional floras and ecological and evolutionary studies can be reliably based.