Solidago virgaurea

Common Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea )

The Common Goldenrod, Goldenrod Common or European goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea ) is a plant from the sunflower family ( Asteraceae).

Description

In the ordinary goldenrod are perennial herbaceous plants, plant height between 10 and 100 centimeters, but usually about 40 inches to the reach. The stems are usually unbranched, at least at the bottom.

The change-constant leaves are stalked in the lower part of stem and ovate and go up into narrower lanceolate, sessile leaves over. The leaf margin is usually serrated irregular, rarely almost entire.

The basket- shaped partial inflorescences are borne in terminal, allseitswendigen, slightly branched paniculate or racemose inflorescences composite. The inflorescences are much looser than in the other European goldenrod species. The flower heads are 6-10 mm in length also significantly greater. The six to twelve pure yellow ray florets are much longer than the cup shell and stand off to the side, so that the cups have a diameter of 10 to 15 mm. The flowering period extends from July to October.

Ecology

Pollination is by bees, bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies.

Toxicity

Although the Common Goldenrod is considered practically non-toxic to humans, but in the U.S. poisoning were observed in cattle. When frequent handling can cause a contact allergy type in humans. The experimentally determined sensitizing capacity is moderate. The reasons responsible for the triggering of allergies are probably previously unknown sesquiterpene lactones as Kompositenallergiker on Solidagoarten cross react with allergies. At the same time trigger the pollen of goldenrod hay fever.

Occurrence

Overall, the Common goldenrod in Eurasia comes from the Arctic to the subtropical zones within the sub-tropical areas, however, only in the mountainous regions.

The Common Goldenrod grows in rather dry, nutrient- poor locations such as in sparse deciduous forests, in dry forest, shrubbery, or roadsides and in neglected grassland. On such sites it is widespread in Central Europe.

Use

The Ordinary golden rod is used as a medicinal herb for bladder and kidney ailments. The drug acts powerfully diuretic. The Diuresewirkung is attributed to the content of saponins. In addition, the Solidagoextrakt reduced the permeability of the vessel walls and simultaneously causes an increase in vascular resistance. For the Common Goldenrod also anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and weak analgesic properties were assigned based on the content of Leiocarposid and Virgaureosid.

In the Middle Ages it was also known as " wound herb" use.

The main ingredients are Phenolglycoside, especially Leiocarposid and Virgaureosid A further flavonoids. The essential oil contains, inter alia, the sesquiterpene γ - cadinene as a main component, which is also present in the juniper.

Due to the presence of flavonoids can also use for dyeing wool or cotton, the Common goldenrod. The materials get a golden tone.

System

Depending on the author are mentioned a number of different varieties.

Sources and further information

• Henning Haeupler, Thomas Muer: Image Atlas of ferns and flowering plants in Germany. Published by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation Germany. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-8001-3364-4.
• Werner Rothmaler: Exkursionsflora the territories of the GDR and the FRG. Volume 2: vascular plants, 14th edition. Volk und Wissen, Berlin 1988, ISBN 3-060-12539-2.
• Common goldenrod. In: FloraWeb.de.
• Lorna Lueck: Intraspecific variability and effects of cultivation measures on the ingredient content and yield of Solidago L. virgaurea - dissertation at the Humboldt University of Berlin, 2001.
• Ruprecht Duell, Herfried Kutzelnigg: Pocket Dictionary of Plants in Germany and neighboring countries. The most common central European species in the portrait. 7, revised and expanded edition. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2011, ISBN 978-3-494-01424-1. (Section Ecology )
• Ingrid and Peter Schoenfelder: The new handbook of medicinal plants, Franckh Cosmos Publishing Company, 2011, ISBN 3-440-09387-5
• Roth / Daunderer / Kormann: poisonous plants plant toxins. 6th edition (2012 ) ISBN 978-3-86820-009-6