Alpine bedstraw
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Galium
Species:
G. hypotrichium
Binomial name
Galium hypotrichium

Galium hypotrichium is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the common name alpine bedstraw. It is native to the western United States, where it grows in mountain and plateau habitats, including parts of the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada in California, Nevada, and Utah.[1][2]

Galium hypotrichium is a perennial herb forming mats from woody bases, sometimes taking dwarf form with stems just a few centimeters long. The stems have many whorls of four fleshy rounded or oval leaves. The inflorescences are made up of small protruding clusters of flowers scattered along the stems. The flowers may be white or tinged with yellow, green, pink, or red.[3][4] It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.[3]

Subspecies

Six subspecies are currently recognized (May 2014):[1]

  • Galium hypotrichium subsp. ebbettsense Dempster & Ehrend - Alpine County CA
  • Galium hypotrichium subsp. hypotrichium - California and Nevada
  • Galium hypotrichium subsp. inyoense Dempster & Ehrend - Inyo County CA
  • Galium hypotrichium subsp. nevadense Dempster & Ehrend - Nevada and Utah
  • Galium hypotrichium subsp. subalpinum (Hilend & J.T.Howell) Ehrend. - southern California
  • Galium hypotrichium subsp. tomentellum Ehrend. - Panamint Ridge in Inyo County CA

References


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