Question: 3-4ish ft tall with simple, alternate leaves. I'm unsure if it will have flowers, but there are none as yet. …
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Question
3-4ish ft tall with simple, alternate leaves. I'm unsure if it will have flowers, but there are none as yet. I live in the Hill towns of Western MA, and it seems to grow all over the place by the side of the road here. I was tempted to test the leaf and root for edibility, but a wiser caution has overcome my curiosity until I can ID it. Thank you very much for any help!
Answer
Stealthwombat, it appears you've photographed a species of Solidago with triple-nerved leaves. The resolution of your photograph doesn't allow me to tell you which species for sure, but it appears the stems are glabrous (i.e., devoid of hairs) and glaucous (i.e., with a bloom). This would suggest Solidago gigantea (smooth goldenrod). Best wishes.
