Effulgent Squire Goldenrod

Latin effulgēns, shining-out — present-participle of effulgere, sharing root with fulgor (lightning). As a color modifier, effulgent implies a saturated-and-radiating-light-out quality, the bright color of Renaissance-Madonna halo-and-aureole gold-leaf-and-pigment emission. Sits at the bright-and-saturated end of the grid, parallel to resplendent and radiant in usage.

Old French escuyer, shield-bearer. As a color modifier, squire implies a knight's-attendant-and-page-of-arms quality, the visual register of English-and-French-Squire hand-forged shield-and-stirrup-and-tabard knight's-attendant-and-page-of-arms surfaces under English-and-French-Squire hand-forged shield-and-stirrup ceremonial-court light. Sits at the modifier-and-cultural end of the grid, parallel to knight and page in usage.

Solidago, the late-summer wildflower of North American meadows whose tall sprays of small yellow flowers signal the end of the growing season. The color refers to the flower head at full bloom: a warm, slightly muted yellow-orange with the matte finish of small clustered florets. Cooler than mustard, deeper than dandelion. The state flower of Kentucky and Nebraska, a pollinator magnet, and the original native dye for early American homespun.