Scientific Name : Solidago capulinensis
Author : Cockerell & Andrews
NatureServe Explorer
Common Name : Capulin Goldenrod
Current Research Activities
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Taxonomy
Asteraceae (sunflower family)
This taxon is included in Ackerfield (2022) as Solidago capulinensis Cockerell & D.M. Andrews. This was not included in Ackerfield (2015). Weber and Wittmann (2012) include S. capulinensis as a note under S. wrightii.
Ranks and Status
State Rank : S2
State Rank Reason : Solidago capulinensis is known from less than ten occurrences in southeastern Colorado, USA. Threats are not well understood but climate change is a concern.
U.S. Endangered Species Act : none
Colorado Threatened and Endangered List : none
Other Statuses : SWAP SGIN
Description and Phenology
General Description:
Perennial herb; stems ascending-erect, (4-) 8-12 dm tall, moderately puberulent and branching on the upper half; leaves densely arranged on the stems, thick textured, elliptic-lanceolate to elliptic-oblanceolate, 4-7 cm long, 12-20 mm wide, smaller into the inflorescence, basally attenuate to a subpetiolate portion 2-3 mm long, margins shallowly crenate-serrate, surfaces puberulent and minutely stipitate-glandular; inflorescence a complex cylindric-conic to pyramidal thyrse, 25-40 cm long, 15-30 (-35) cm wide, not at all one-sided; heads turbinate-campanulate, 3-5 mm wide; phyllaries in 4-5 graduated series, lanceolate to oblanceolate, apically acute, inner 5.5-6 mm long, outer about half as long; ray flowers 11-15, corollas yellow, erect, 5-7 mm long, 1-1.2 mm wide; disc flowers 5-6 mm long, corolla lobes 2.6-3 mm long; achenes 2.5-3 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm wide, glabrous; pappus of apically acute barbellate bristles (New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council 2023).
Look Alikes:
Solidago capulinensis is similar to S. wrightii and S. petiolaris, but differs from those species in its larger stature, larger leafy inflorescence, and longer disc corollas (5-6 mm for S. capulinensis versus 3-5 mm for the other two).
Phenology:
August-September.
Habitat
Among boulders (basalt or sandstone), in canyons or on hillsides in juniper savanna and plains-mesa grassland. Associated plant species include Juniperus monosperma, J. scopulorum, Pinus edulis, P. ponderosa, Populus angustifolia, Quercus gambelii, Bouteloua curtipendula, Muhlenbergia, and Piptatherum micranthum (CNHP 2023).
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Elevation Range:
4,500 - 5,700 feet (1,372 - 1,737 meters)
Distribution
Colorado Endemic:
No
Range:
Solidago capulinensis is known from Baca, Huerfano, and Las Animas counties in Colorado, USA. The estimated range extent in Colorado of 6548 square kilometers was calculated in GeoCAT using occurrence data provided by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (2026). This taxon is also known from New Mexico.
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Threats and Management Issues
The largest threats include development for roads, trails and infrastructure for public recreation. Climate change is also a concern. Some occurrences are located in Fishers Peak State Park. This, in addition to steep slopes which make access very difficult, offers some protection to the plants.
References
- Ackerfield, J. 2015. Flora of Colorado. BRIT Press, Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, TX. 818 pp.
- Ackerfield, Jennifer. 2022. Flora of Colorado. Second Edition. Bot. Misc. 60. BRIT Press, Fort Worth Botanic Garden/Botanical Research Institute of Texas, U.S.A. 861 pp.
- Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP). 2023. Biodiversity Tracking and Conservation System (Biotics 5). Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee, ed. (FNA). 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. Oxford Univ. Press, New York, Oxford.
- Nesom, G.L., and T.K. Lowrey. 2011. Solidago capulinensis (Asteraceae: Astereae) redivivus. Phytoneuron 24: 1-22.
- New Mexico Rare Plant Technical Council. 1999. New Mexico Rare Plants. Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Rare Plants Home Page. http://nmrareplants.unm.edu (Latest update: 29 Nov 2023).
- Weber, W. A. and R. C. Wittmann. 2012. Colorado Flora, Eastern Slope, A Field Guide to the Vascular Plants, Fourth Edition. Boulder, Colorado. 555 pp.
Biotics Export Date : September, 2026
