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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

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CPC National Collection Plant Profile

Solidago houghtonii

Family:	Asteraceae
Common Name:	Houghton's goldenrod
Author:	Torr. & Gray
Growth Habit:	Forb/herb
CPC Number:	4043

Distribution
Protection
Conservation
References

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Photographer: Unknown

Solidago houghtonii is Fully Sponsored

Primary custodian for this plant in the CPC National Collection of Endangered Plants is:

The Holden Arboretum

Dawn M. Gerlica and Lindsey Parsons contributed to this Plant Profile.

The initial writing of this profile was funded by the U.S. Forest Service

Solidago houghtonii

Solidago houghtonii is often accepted as a distinctive species, but its origins continue to be clouded. It is usually a hexaploid and thought to be a naturally occurring hybrid, but the actual parents are the source of controversy. Potential parents could be S. ptarmicoides, S. ohioensis, and S. riddellii whose offspring then crossed back with another S. ohioensis. Adding to the confusion, the New York populations are slightly different and might add S. uliginosa to their parentage. (Morton 1979; Semple and Ringius 1983; Michigan Natural Features Inventory 1996)

Like many goldenrods, Houghton's is known for its small, bright yellow flowers at the top of an 8-20 inch stem. The flowers are arranged in a flat-topped cluster. The well-scattered leaves are smooth, narrow, 4-5 inches long, and slightly clasping at the base. The fine hairs on the branches of the flower cluster are also distinctive. Flowers appear most frequently in August. (Michigan Natural Features Inventory 1996)

Distribution & Occurrence

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State Range

Michigan
New York

Habitat

This species is restricted to the shores of the Great Lakes, primarily Lake Huron and Michigan. The plants are usually found on moist, neutral to alkaline sandy lakeshores, and in shallow depressions between low sand ridges. Unlike the sandy habitat, they can also be found on seasonally wet limestone pavement of alvars. They may be subjected to fluctuating water levels and can be submerged during high water years, but seedlings reestablish themselves on the moist sand when the low water years come again. (Michigan Natural Features Inventory 1996; Ostlie 1990)

Distribution

Historically located in Michigan, New York, and Ontario

Number Left

Michigan- This species occurs in about 60 sites within 9 counties of Michigan, although highest concentrations are in Mackinac, Emmet, Cheboygen, and Presque Isle. (Michigan Natural Features Inventory 1996)

New York- There is at least one site confirmed in Genesee county and there are unconfirmed reports from Orleans county. (Young 2001)

Ontario - Seven sites. (Ostlie 1990)

Protection

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Global Rank:	G3	1/1/1996	Guide to Global Ranks
Federal Status:	LT	7/18/1988	Guide to Federal Status
Recovery Plan:	No

State/Area Protection

State/Area	Rank	Status	Date
Canada	N2	R	5/22/1991
Michigan	S3	T	3/1/1999
New York	S1	E	4/1/2001
Ontario	S2	R	3/31/2000

Conservation, Ecology & Research

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Ecological Relationships

Herbivores don't seem to pose a threat to this species. There has been limited damage sustained to this species from aphid infestations and direct consumption by larger animals. (Ostlie 1990)

Threats

Increased human activity in shoreline areas
Residential development
Dune destabilization
Disruption of the naturally occurring fluctuating water levels prevents dune habitat from forming, and then plants do not re-establish themselves
Heavy foot and vehicular traffic
Maintenance of rights-of-way - roads, paths (NatureServe Explorer 2001)

Current Research Summary

None known

Current Management Summary

None known

Research Management Needs

Thorough study of all aspects of reproductive biology including pollinator identification, self-pollination ability, seed set and dispersal.
Research is needed to determine the species actual origin and its level of genetic variability. (NatureServe Explorer 2001)

Ex Situ Needs

None known

References

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Books (Single Authors)

1999. A Forester's Field Guide to the Endangered and Threatened Plants of Michigan's Upper Penninsula. Mead Corporation, Champion International Corporation and Shelter Bay Forests, Inc.

Antonio, T.M.; Masi, S. 2001. The Sunflower Family in the Upper Midwest. IN. Indiana Academy of Science. Indianapolis.

Gleason, H.A.; Cronquist, A. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Bronx: The New York Botanical Garden.

Mohlenbrock, R.H. 1983. Where have all the wildflowers gone? A region-by-region guide to threatened or endangered U.S. wildflowers. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc. 239p.

WWF. 1990. The official World Wildlife Fund (WWF) guide to endangered species of North America. Washington, D.C.: Beacham Publishing. 1180p.

Books (Sections)

Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the U.S., Canada, and Greenland. In: Kartesz, J.T.; Meacham, C.A., editors. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden. Chapel Hill, NC.

Electronic Sources

NatureServe. (2008). NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. [Internet].Version 7.0. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. Accessed: (June 17, 2008).

Young, S.M. (2001). New York Rare Plant Status List. New York Natural Heritage Program. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/heritage/RPSL.pdf.. Accessed: 2001.

Journal Articles

Guire, K.E.; Voss, E.G. 1963. Distributions of distinctive shoreline plants in the Great Lakes Region. Michigan Botanist. 2: 99-114.

Morton, J.K. 1979. Observations on Houghton's goldenrod (Solidago houghtonii). Michigan Botanist. 18: 31-35.

Semple, J.C.; Ringius, G.S. 1983. Goldenrods of Ontario: Solidago and Euthamnia. University of Waterloo, Biological Series. 26: 70-72.

USFWS. 1987. Proposal to determine threatened status for Solidago houghtonii (Houghton's goldenrod). Federal Register. 52, 160: 31045-31047.

USFWS. 1987. Two plants and three animals proposed for listing. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 12, 9: 1,8.

USFWS. 1988. Approved listing rules. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 13, 8: 3.

USFWS. 1988. Determination of threatened status for Solidago houghtonii (Houghton's goldenrod). Federal Register. 53, 137: 27134-27137.

Voss, L.A. 1956. A history of the floristics in the Douglas Lake region (Emmet and Cheboygan Counties) Michigan, with an account of rejected records. Journal of Sci. Labs. Dennison Univ. 44: 16-75.

Reports

1996. Special plant abstract for Solidago houghtonii (Houghton's goldenrod). Lansing, MI: Michigan Natural Features Inventory. p.2.

Crispin, S.; Penskar, M. 1990. Solidago houghtonii; Endangered Species Manual. Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Unpublished abstract.

Ostlie, W.R. 1990. Element Stewardship Abstract for Solidago houghtonii (Houghton's goldenrod). Minneapolis, MN: The Nature Conservancy.

Randall, C. 1978. Four threatened plants for the Great Lakes shorelines. Lansing: Michigan Department of Natural Resources. p.6.

USFWS. 1991. Houghton's goldenrod (Solidato houghtonii) recovery plan. Twin Cities, Minnesota: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

USFWS. 1997. Recovery Plan for Solidago houghtonii (Houghton's goldenrod). Ft. Snelling, Minnesota: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. p.vii+ 58. [19137].

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This profile was updated on 3/4/2010