The problem: the slender flat-topped goldenrod varies considerably from the southern portion of its range to the northern and from location to location. And other flat-topped goldenrods have ecotypes with characteristics that overlap with those of the slender. A taxonomist's nightmare.

To further confuse matters, Linnaeus originally placed the slender flat-topped in with the daisy fleabanes, genus Erigeron. Later it was moved to Solidago, the true goldenrods. In all, over the years, it has had at least 10 names.

The slender flat-topped goldenrod grows in moist to relatively dry soils. The plants are usually scattered across the landscape near the outer edges of marshes or among grasses in flatwoods and prairies. In disturbed locations like old pastures, flat-topped goldenrod often forms an upper herbaceous layer.

The plant is an important source of nectar in late autumn for small native bees and numerous butterflies.

(Compiled from: "Euthamia", Arthur Haines, Flora of North America, Vol. 20, efloras.org,; "Euthamia caroliniana", R. P. Wunderlin and B. F. Hansen, Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants, Institute for Systematic Botany, 2007, University of South Florida, Tampa; and personal observation)