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Typical shape/form of Tall Goldenrod. |
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Flowers. |
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Flowers, a closer view. |
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Closeup side view. |
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Goldenrods are insect magnets! A huge variety of insects flock to goldenrod while it's in bloom.
This is a beetle that is often found on various species of Goldenrod, here on Tall Goldenrod. It's often called a "Goldenrod Beetle". |
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The stem is crowded with many leaves, especially towards the top. |
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The stem is fuzzy with short hairs right to the base. |
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A classic Goldenrod gall. It is formed by the larvae of a small fly. |
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You will often find these galls pecked open by birds in the winter. In fact, the grub inside is edible by humans as well. |
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This larva "pre-eats" a channel to the outside world before winter sets in, so that once it pupates into a fly, it will have no trouble getting out. Otherwise it would have quite a job getting out through those tough goldenrod fibres. |
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The grub. |
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Yup, it's edible! Ok, ok, don't gross out! It's really no different than many other meats that we eat. |
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A stand of Tall Goldenrod, many of which have the classic Goldenrod galls - these are the bright spots on the stems. |
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Upper surface of leaf. |
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Underside of leaf. |
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