Photo
at right of Oregon bedstraw from Rd N68, about 8-10 miles WNW of Grassy Knoll
Trail, Gifford Pinchot N.F.........June 30, 1990.
Oregon bedstraw is a perennial wildflower with erect or spreading (lax) stems which may root at the nodes. When erect, it may arise from 10-40 cm high. The herbage is smooth, with 5-8 whorls of 4 ovate to elliptic leaves, with hairs along the margins and 3 main veins. The leaves are each 1.5-5 cm long and 0.5- 3.3 cm wide and have acute tips. The leaf margins are lined by numerous minute hairs as are the veins on the undersides of the leaf blades. The slender stems are square in cross-section.
The inflorescence is terminal from the upper leaf axils. It is 6-18 flowered and somewhat cymose. The corollas are 4-petalled, 4 mm wide, and greenish white in color. Each of the corolla lobes is 3-nerved. Each flower produces 2 nutlets sparsely to densely covered with long, hooked hairs which can be spread by passing animals or humans.
Oregon bedstraw is found from the coast to about 5000' in the mountains. It is a plant of moist woods and meadows.
Oregon bedstraw is found west of the Cascade Mts. in Oregon and Washington.
