Queens of the Meadows
Goldenrods - Ironweeds - Joe Pyes
Elaine K. Delcuze Plant Rescue Team Member

Canada Gold Rod (above) and Sweet Gold Rod (below) is not the cause of hayfever, ragweed is the culprit, it blooms at the same time.

To a wildflower lover, the colorful blooms of these late flowering composites rival those of the approaching fall season. Yet they have been mistakenly accused as the cause of allergies. The truth is that they are so conspicuous and prevalent during the late summer early fall "hay-fever season" that they carry the brunt of the blame even though their pollen is too heavy and sticky to be airborne. Gathered by bees and butterflies and not fine enough to be spread by the wind as is the pollen of the true culprits, the ragweeds, these queens of the meadow do provide excellent adult nectar sources for resident and visiting butterflies in this North Georgia area including the Great Purple Hairstreak, Baltimore Checkerspot, Spicebush Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, and Red Admiral.

GOLDENRODS (Solidago spp.) are, without a doubt, one of the most conspicuous wildlings of the season, yet one of the most difficult genus in which to identify species because their flowerheads are small and the rays very short. Differences in floral characteristics tend to be slight and hard to discern. Most field guides list only a few of the most common Solidagos, there being more than 30 which occur in the southeast. They were reputed by early settlers to heal urinary tract infections and colic, and were used as a dye for clothing and baskets. Three states- Kentucky, Alabama, and Nebraska- honor goldenrods as their state flower. Three very distinct goldenrods of this area are the silverrod or white goldenrod (S. bicolor) a tall solitary perennial herb having narrowly elliptic leaves, white ray flowers and yellow discs arranged in a narrow spike; blue-stemmed goldenrod, or wreath goldenrod (S. caesia) having a smooth bluish arching stem, alternate smooth shallowly toothed narrowly lanceolate leaves and yellow ray and disc flowers clustered at the leaf bases along the stem; and giant goldenrod, or late goldenrod (S. gigantea) with a purplish stem, sharply toothed lanceolate leaves and yellow ray and disc flowers arranged in a plume with flowers attached along only one side of the recurved branches.

IRONWEEDS (Vernonia spp.) are tall plants with narrow, alternate leaves, an open-flattopped inflorescence and dark purple flowers. They were named for English botanist William Vernon who botanized in the United States in the late 1600's and amassed an extensive plant collection in Maryland. Vernonia leaves and roots were used by Native Americans to make a tea that was used during pregnancy and childbirth. The most common ironweeds of the southeast are the New York ironweed (V. noveboracensis) having flowers of an intense deep royal purpleviolet color which extends to the leaves. The heads average about 30 flowers each and are flat-topped; and tall ironweed (V. altissima) having numerous violet heads of fewer than 30 flowers each.

JOE-PYE WEEDS (Eupatoriums) are among the few plants to bear the name of an American Indian. Joe Pye was an itinerant herb doctor active in New England during the latter part of the eighteenth century, treating spotted fever, kidney stones, and diarrhea. The genus, however, was named after Mithridates Eupator, King of Parthia (132- 63 BCE) who originally discovered their medicinal uses. Also known as "thoroughworts" since their stems appear to grow through the leaves, there are more than 17 species in the southeast, the most popular of which are boneset (E. perfoliatum) with white ray and disc flowers, and hollow Joe-Pye weed (E. fistulosum) a robust perennial to 7 feet with smooth purple-glaucous hollow stems, whorls of 4 to 7 lanceolate 4 to 12 inch leaves and pinkish purple ray and disc flowers arragned in large round heads.

Look for these regal meadow beauties as you travel the countryside this fall. With so much of our former farmland and pastureland being converted to developmental properties repleat with non-native species, these "Queens of the Meadows" are fast disappearing from the natural landscape. If you are planning any land disturbing activity, you are urged to contact a Plant Rescue Team member for advice in preserving the native plant material that may exist on your property. If you wish to learn more about the Native Plant Rescue program at the Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center, contact Jennifer Cordier (706-745- 0317) ivylog@altel.net or Glenn Henderson, abletinker@aol.com.