[The Bedstraw Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Northern Bedstraw

Galium boreale

Synonyms: Galium boreale ssp. septentrionale, Galium boreale var. hyssopifolium, Galium boreale var. intermedium, Galium boreale var. linearifolium, Galium boreale var. scabrum, Galium boreale var. typicum

Northern Bedstraw: Galium boreale

The photo above shows the inflorescence of northern bedstraw as seen along Kreps Lane in Conboy National Wildlife Refuge........July 2, 2006. The inflorescence is terminal, showy, and can be much-branched.
Whorled leaves of Northern Bedstraw: Galium boreale (Synonyms: Galium boreale ssp. septentrionale, Galium boreale var. hyssopifolium, Galium boreale var. intermedium, Galium boreale var. linearifolium, Galium boreale var. scabrum, Galium boreale var. typicum)The photo at right shows a close-up of the upper stem and several whorls of leaves of northern bedstraw. The whorls contain 4 leaves which are 3-nerved.
Characteristics:

Northern bedstraw is an erect perennial with smooth herbage, from 15-80 cm tall. It may be simple stemmed, or branched. The leaves are usually in whorls of 4 with individual leaves lanceolate or linear, 1.5-4 cm long, and with 3 nerves on the lower leaves and 1 nerve on the upper.

The inflorescence is showy with numerous flowers in a cymose panicle. Individual flowers are 3.5-7 mm wide with 4 white petals.

Habitat:

Northern bedstraw is found from sea level to well up in the mountains, often in moist meadows.

Range:

Northern bedstraw is found from the Arctic south to California, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, and as far east as West Virginia.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found from east of Washougal, WA to as far east as Lyle, WA. It may be found between the elevations of 100'-4000'.

Paul Slichter