Torrid Terra Goldenrod

Latin torridus, parched / scorching — sharing root with torrēre (to dry by heat). As a color modifier, torrid implies a saturated-and-tropical-hot quality, the bright color of equatorial-Saharan-and-Sonoran-desert mid-summer high-temperature surface-emission. Sits at the bright-and-warm end of the grid, parallel to scorching and fiery in usage.

Latin terra, earth-or-land. As a color modifier, terra implies a earth-globe-and-loamy-and-grounded quality, the visual register of Pale-Blue-Dot-and-Apollo-Terra hand-earth-globe-and-loamy-and-grounded Pale-Blue-Dot-and-Apollo-and-Earthrise terra-and-earth-globe-and-loamy-and-grounded surfaces under Pale-Blue-Dot-and-Apollo-and-Earthrise lunar-orbit-and-deep-space earth-globe-light. Sits at the modifier-and-cosmic end of the grid, parallel to luna and sol 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.