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Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

Monarch Butterfly on Canadian Goldenrod | William O'Brien State Park, MN | View Enlarged Image

Named for the clusters of bright yellow flowers that crown its stem, goldenrod can be seen growing along highways and open fields in the summer and fall.  It is a native plant, and a very beneficial part of our environment.  Goldenrods are amazing plants.  Many people assume they cause hay fever.  According to most  naturalists, this is a common misnomer.  Ragweed, which is in season at the same time as goldenrod, is the actual culprit.

In the ecosystem of the upper midwest, Goldenrod  are sort of like nature's granary. In the summer and fall, their stems attract a variety of insects, including bees, wasps, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.  Monarch butterflies seem especially attracted to them.  Goldfinch and several other birds will feed on their seeds.   However, unlike many plants, the goldenrod doesn't stop when the snow falls.  In the summer and fall, insects burrow small holes into the stalks of the goldenrod to deposit their eggs.  As the larva hatch and burrow into the center of the plant, they irritate the goldenrod, causing bulb-like swells, or "galls".

Galls generally make for good protection and winter insulation. Caterpillar larva will hibernate throughout winter, and hatch in the spring --if they don't become a meal first? Predatory insects like wasps have caught on to the caterpillar's clever trick. If a mother wasp is lucky enough to find a developing goldenrod gall, she will shove her ovipositor (egg-laying mechanism) right into the hole bore by the mother caterpillars, depositing her eggs into the tunnel.  When the wasp larva hatch, they travel down the tunnels chewed by the caterpillar larva and eat them alive.  Wasps aren't the only ones to catch on ot the caterpillar's trick. Chickadees and other small birds will break galls apart looking for a high protein snack to get them through the harsh winter months.   Humans have even caught on to the secret of galls. Anglers will break them open, using the larva as fishing bait.

 Some other interesting facts about Goldenrod:

• Goldenrod has been around for a long time.  It was originally called "Candelaria"by the ancient Romans, who used its tallow for torch fuel.
• The Settlers used Goldenrod for its reputed medicinal value; boiling the root in a pot of water and inhaling the steam.  It allegedly cured coughs and colds.
• There are over 150 different kinds of Goldenrod in the United States alone.
  

Multimedia:

Canadian Goldenrod | Stillwater, MN

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