(Zizia aurea)
Conservation • Wetland • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy
Description |
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Golden alexanders is a 12″ to 24″ tall, erect, perennial forb that rises from a dense cluster of coarse, fibrous, tuberous-thickened roots. The stems are erect or ascending, hairless or nearly hairless, keeled, and branched above the middle. Basal leaves are more or less circular in outline, 1½″ to 5½″ long and wide, and on long leaf stalks. They are divided into 3 stalked leaflets (ternate), or divided into 3 stalked segments, each segment divided into 3 leaflets (biternate). The central leaflets on biternate leaves are stalked, the lateral 2 leaflets unstalked. Stem leaves are alternate and similar to basal leaves. Lower stem leaves are large and on long leaf stalks. They may be divided into 3 main divisions, with each division divided into 3 segments, and each segment divided into 3 leaflets (triternate), or they may be biternate. The leaves become progressively smaller, less divided, and on shorter leaf stalks as they ascend the stem. Upper stem leaves are nearly stalkless and once ternate. The leaflets are egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 1″ to 4¾″ long, and ½″ to 1¼″ wide. They are hairless, rounded or tapered asymmetrically at the base, and tapered to a point or blunt at the tip. They may have 1 or 2 shallow lobes. The margins are sharply toothed with 5 to 10 fine, forward-pointing teeth every ⅜″. The inflorescence is a compound umbel at the end of the stem and branches. It is up to 3″ in diameter and has 11 to 16 slender, ¼″ to 2″ long branches (rays). There is no bract at the base of the umbel. At the end of each ray is a small umbel (umbellet). There are 11 to 19 or more individual flowers in each umbellet. The central flower in each umbellet is stalkless or nearly stalkless. There is a leaf-like bract at the base of each umbellet. The flowers are about ⅛″ across. The 5 petals are bright yellow and curve inward. There are 5 yellow stamens with yellow anthers. Some of the stamens do not protrude above the petals. There is no floral scent. The fruit is dry, oval to egg-shaped, 1 ⁄16″ to ⅛″ long, 1 ⁄16″ wide achene. It is ribbed but is not winged. At maturity it splits into 2 segments, each containing 1 seed. |
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Height |
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12″ to 24″ |
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Flower Color |
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Yellow |
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Similar Species |
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Heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera) basal leaves and sometimes lower stem leaves are heart-shaped, not compound and not lobed. Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is much taller, up to 60″ tall at maturity. The leaves are pinnately compound with 5 to 15 leaflets. Yellow meadow parsnip (Thaspium barbinode) umbellets have a central flower that is on a short but distinct flower stalk. The achenes are winged. |
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Habitat |
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Moderate moisture to wet. Moist prairies, savannas, thickets, woodland edges and openings, and trailsides. Sandy soil. Full sun to partial shade. |
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Ecology |
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Flowering |
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May to July |
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Pests and Diseases |
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Use |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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6/13/2022 | ||||
Nativity |
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Native |
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Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Kingdom | Plantae (green algae and land plants) | ||
Subkingdom | Viridiplantae (green plants) | ||
Infrakingdom | Streptophyta (land plants and green algae) | ||
Superdivision | Embryophyta (land plants) | ||
Division | Tracheophyta (vascular plants) | ||
Subdivision | Spermatophytina (seed plants) / Angiospermae (flowering plants) | ||
Class | Magnoliopsida (flowering plants) | ||
Superorder | Asteranae | ||
Order |
Apiales (carrots, ivies, and allies) | ||
Suborder | Apiineae | ||
Family |
Apiaceae (carrot) | ||
Subfamily | Apioideae | ||
Tribe | Selineae | ||
Genus |
Zizia (golden alexanders) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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common golden alexanders golden alexanders golden zizia |
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Glossary
Achene
A dry, one-chambered, single-seeded seed capsule, formed from a single carpel, with the seed attached to the membranous outer layer (wall) only by the seed stalk; the wall, formed entirely from the wall of the superior ovary, does not split open at maturity, but relies on decay or predation to release the contents.
Biternate
Twice ternate. A leaf divided into 3 segments, with each segment divided into 3 leaflets.
Bract
Modified leaf at the base of a flower stalk, flower cluster, or inflorescence.
Keeled
Folded, as in a grass blade, or with a raised ridge, as in a grass sheath; like the keel of a boat.
Pinnate
On a compound leaf, having the leaflets arranged on opposite sides of a common stalk. On a bryophyte, having branches evenly arranged on opposite sides of a stem.
Ray
A strap-shaped flower, or the strap-shaped portion of a flower, in the Asteraceae (aster) family. A branch of an umbel in the Apiaceae (carrot) family.
Ternate
Refers to leaves that are divided into three leaflets or sections.
Triternate
Three times ternate. A leaf divided into 3 main divisions, with each division divided into 3 segments, and each segment divided into 3 leaflets.
Umbel
A flat-topped or convex, umbrella-shaped cluster of flowers or buds arising from more or less a single point.
Umbellet
A secondary umbel in a compound umbel.
Wing
A thin, flat, membranous, usually transparent appendage on the margin of a structure.
Visitor Photos |
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Greg Watson |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Habitat |
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Plant |
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Inflorescence |
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Leaves |
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Infructescence |
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Slideshows |
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Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) Andree Reno Sanborn |
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Zizia aurea GOLDEN ALEXANDERS Frank Mayfield |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Early Spring Growth - Pussy Toes, Golden Alexander, Canada Columbine & Prairie Smoke MNNativePlants |
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About
Published on Apr 28, 2013 Rich looks at some early spring growth in the native planting. The plants shown are Pussy Toes (Antennaria Plantaginifolia), Golden Alexander (Zizia Aurea), Canada Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis) & Prairie Smoke (Geum Triflorum). |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this plant. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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Greg Watson 6/19/2022 |
Location: Apple Blossom Overlook Park |
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Greg Watson 5/27/2022 |
Location: Eagles Bluff Park in La Crescent, MN |
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Crystal Boyd 6/2/2013 |
Location: Pine Bend Bluffs SNA |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Charles A. Lindbergh State Park Clifton E. French Regional Park Felton Prairie SNA, Bicentennial Unit John Peter Hoffman Spring Brook Valley WMA Margherita Preserve-Audubon Prairie Minnesota Valley NWR, Rapids Lake Unit Mound Spring Prairie SNA, North Unit Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Hoffman Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Pavia Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Spieker Unit Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Touch the Sky Prairie Unit Pembina Trail Preserve SNA, Crookston Prairie Unit Richard M. & Mathilde Rice Elliott SNA Sand Prairie Wildlife Management and Environmental Education Area Verlyn Marth Memorial Prairie SNA |
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