The yellow flower trend continues. This week, we have not one but three flowers, the three main species of goldenrod (Solidago) found on the Pajarito Plateau: Solidago wrightii (shown in the image above), Solidago simplex, and Solidago velutina.
Wright’s goldenrod (Solidago wrightii) is fuzzy and resembles a many-stemmed, bushy plant with lots of curly leaves growing from the stems.
I refer to Solidago simplex as smooth goldenrod since the stems are not at all fuzzy. It is mostly a singe- or few-stemmed plant where the flowers form a true golden rod at the top.
![smooth-goldenrod-by-chick-keller](http://peecnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Smooth-Goldenrod-by-Chick-Keller-300x277.jpeg)
![smooth-goldenrod-by-chick-keller](http://peecnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Smooth-Goldenrod-by-Chick-Keller-300x277.jpeg)
Finally, you can find what I call rough goldenrod (Solidago velutina), which has rough hairs on the stems and leaves. The flowers grow in a branching array and often form a pyramid or at least droopy cluster.
![rough-goldenrod-by-chick-keller](http://peecnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Rough-goldenrod-by-Chick-Keller-225x300.jpeg)
![rough-goldenrod-by-chick-keller](http://peecnature.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Rough-goldenrod-by-Chick-Keller-225x300.jpeg)
Sometimes you can see all three types at the same time in our ponderosa woods.
Enjoy.