Electric Corona Goldenrod

From the Greek elektron, amber — the substance whose static-electric properties were observed by Thales of Miletus. Used as a color modifier since the late nineteenth century after electric light made certain saturated colors feel attention-demanding. Electric blue, electric pink: the implication is hot luminance combined with optical impact. Sits at the bright-bucket extreme.

Latin corona, crown-or-circle-of-light. As a color modifier, corona implies a sun-corona-and-eclipse-halo quality, the visual register of total-solar-eclipse-corona hand-sun-corona-and-eclipse-halo total-solar-eclipse-and-Sun-corona-and-Bailey's-Beads corona-and-sun-corona-and-eclipse-halo surfaces under total-solar-eclipse-and-Sun-corona-and-Bailey's-Beads totality-and-Moon-shadow-and-pearl ring-of-fire-light. Sits at the modifier-and-cosmic end of the grid, parallel to prism and nebula 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.