Euthamia occidentalis Nutt.
Western Goldenrod (syn. Solidago occidentalis)
Family: Asteraceae
Habit: Perennial herb less than 2 m. Smooth much branched white stem from creeping rhizome. Leaves are lance-linear and glabrous.
Distribution: Found in ditches, coastal salt marsh, freshwater marsh, stream banks and meadows in California (except deserts) to western Canada, New Mexico and Northern Baja, California, Mexico.
Seed unit: Achene.
Seed: 1 mm. fusiform, strigose. Pappus of 25 to 45 bristles.
Embryo: Well-developed cotyledons with no endosperm.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU# 50 - Intact achene, with or without one or more of the following structures: beak, bristle, hairs, pappus, wing, or firmly attached floral remnants, provided a true seed with some degree of embryo development can be detected (either by slight pressure or by examination over light).
Piece of broken achene larger than one-half of the original size, unless no seed is present. Seed, with or without pericarp/seed coat; if broken, larger than one-half the original size.
ISTA: PSD#1 – Achene with or without pappus, unless it is obvious that no seed is present.
Lab notes: There are often many immature, shriveled fruits.
Average pure seed units per gram: 13,159 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from six (6) samples received for testing from 1999 to 2002).
Range of percent pure seed: 25% to 57%
Range of percent inert: 42% to 74%
Description of inert: Plant material, broken seed.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, TB, 21 days at 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p. 266.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck. 1968. p. 1185.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
