Sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora, Asteraceae): A medicine, tea, and state herb

Sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora) has a long history of medicinal use by Nat ive Americans and was exported for tea in the nineteenth century. In 1996 s weet goldenrod was proclaimed the State Herb of Delaware. The essential oil of flowering tops of S, odora f odora originally from Maryland is characte rized by 70.81 +/- 3.82% methyl chavicol (estragole) and 12.45 +/- 2.26% my rcene, while the essential oil of flowering tops of S. odora f. inodora fro nt Delaware is characterized by 31.28 +/- 13.26% myrcene, -37.09 +/- 4.13% limonene, and 12.89 +/- 4.41% (E)-methyl isoeugenol. While no toxic princip les could be found in the essential oil, further study is still needed to c onfirm that the toxicity reported in previous studies is due entirely to in festations Dy goldenrod rust, Coleosporium asterum.