Galium circaezans

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Galium circaezans
Galium circaezans drawing.png
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Galium
Species:
G. circaezans
Binomial name
Galium circaezans

Galium circaezans, common name licorice bedstraw or wild licorice, is a plant species in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to the eastern half of the United States from the Great Plains to the Atlantic, plus Quebec and Ontario. There are also a few isolated populations in Washington state, probably adventive. [1] [2] Galium circaezans was originally described by André Michaux in Flora Boreali-Americana (published March 19, 1803). [3] [4] It is also known as white licorice, forest bedstraw, and more. [5] Galium circaezans is a weedy, herbaceous perennial or subshrub. [5] It is native to Central and Eastern North America. [5] Other synonyms of Galium circaezans include Galium brachiatum Muhl. (Illegitimate), Galium circaeoides Roem. & Schult, and Galium rotundifolium var. circaezans (Michx.) Kuntze. [6] G circaezans is not threatened to go extinct. [7]

Contents

Description

Galium circaezans has a height of about 1 to 2 feet and a spread of 1 to 2 feet. It blooms with tiny flowers that are sessile along the branches of each inflorescence from May to July. [8] There are 3-4 greenish lobes on each flower. Each flower is about 1/8 of an inch across and is radially symmetrical. [9] They each have a pair of styles, a double-ovoid ovary, 4-lobed greenish-white to greenish yellow corolla, and 4 stamens. [10] When an ovary reaches maturity, it becomes a dry, spherical, indehiscent, reflexed, one-seeded fruit that is dark brown or black. They are also covered in hooked bristles that aid in dispersal. The fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe and is about 3 mm in length. [11] Galium circaezans has pubescent, lanceolate to ovate green leaves in whorls of 4 and light green, square stems. The leaves are about 2.5 inches long, medium green, sparsely pubescent, has three prominent parallel veins, and are sessile. The margins of Galium circaezans leaves are entire. [12]

Galium circaezans is most closely related to other Galium species that mostly have leaves whorled in groups of 4 (or rarely 5 or 6 in some species) at the primary nodes. [13]

Taxonomy

Galium circaezans is within the family Rubiaceae which is commonly referred to as the madder, coffee, and bedstraw family. [14] Plants in Rubiaceae are characterized by opposite stipulate leaves, regular flowers with stamens borne on the corolla tube, and 1- to 10-celled ovaries with ovules that become a capsule, berry, or distinct nutlet. [15] Galium L. is the largest genus in the Rubiaceae family with more than 600 species worldwide. [16] It contains the bedstraws and is characterized by whorled leaves. [17]

Distribution and Habitat

Galium circaezans is found in the lower 48 as well as parts of Canada and Alaska. [18] It has been found throughout the Southeastern United States; as far west as Texas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska; and north into the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Its habitat consists mainly of mesic to dry forests. [19] It has been found in places like rich, loamy ravines; rich moist or dry woods; and dry wooded bluffs. [20] Galium circaezans prefers partial shade, dry to medium amounts of water, has medium maintenance, and tolerates drought to dry soil. [21] Galium circaezans wetland region status is FACU for the Arid West; Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain; Great Plains; Midwest; Northcentral & Northeast; and Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast. [22] [23] Its wetland region status is UPL for Eastern Mountains and Piedmont. [22]

Dispersal

Galium circaezans is slowly spread via creeping rhizomes and/or self seeding. [24] It is also dispersed by ants. [25] The hooked bristles on the mature ovaries of G. circaezans also aid in dispersal by sticking to things like animal fur and human clothing in order to be distributed to a new location. [24] Galium circaezans have elaiosomes that are structurally different from any that have been heretofore described. [26] All Galium are didyrnous or twin-fruited. In Galium circaezans, only one of the fruits develop and the other fruit becomes an elaisome by developing into a small fleshy appendage. [26] Typically, the second fruit would just abort.

Galium circaezans Varieties

Galium circaezans consists of two well geographically marked varieties: typicum and hypomalacum. [27] The G. circaezans specimen collected from Cabell county are a mixture of these two varieties. [27] Galium circaezans var. hypomalacum is more northern, has lower leaf surface appressed-pilose, long hirsute in the veins, and larger leaves (2-5 cm long and 1-2.5 cm wide). Variety typicum have small and glabrous leaves. [28] There is also another variety named Galium circaezans var. circaezans. [29] This variety is more southern, has a lower leaf surface that are glabrous or sparsely short-hispid on the veins, and has larger leaves (1.5-2.5 cm long and 0.7-1.4 cm wide). [30]

Etymology

Galium comes from the Greek word gala, which means milk. [31] This would also mean the plants that are used to curdle milk. The specific epithet circaezans comes from "Circaea" or "Circe". Circe was an enchantress of Greek mythology that was said to use the plant in her potions. [32]

Related Research Articles

<i>Galium odoratum</i> Species of flowering plant

Galium odoratum, the sweet woodruff or sweetscented bedstraw, is a flowering perennial plant in the family Rubiaceae, native to much of Europe from Spain and Ireland to Russia, as well as Western Siberia, Turkey, Iran, the Caucasus, China and Japan. It is also sparingly naturalised in scattered locations in the United States and Canada. It is widely cultivated for its flowers and its sweet-smelling foliage.

<i>Ludwigia alternifolia</i> Species of flowering plant in the willowherb family Onagraceae

Ludwigia alternifolia, commonly known as seedbox, bushy seedbox, rattlebox, and square-pod water-primrose, is a herbaceous perennial plant of the family Onagraceae. It is native to central and eastern North America, growing in marshes, wet meadows, and swamps. It has yellow, four-petaled flowers and brown seed pods that are shaped like a cube.

<i>Galium triflorum</i> Species of plant

Galium triflorum is a herbaceous plant of the family Rubiaceae. It is widespread in northern Europe, eastern Asia, the Middle East and Indian subcontinent, and North America. The plant is considered a noxious weed in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

<i>Galium album</i> Species of plant

Galium album, the white bedstraw or hedge bedstraw, is a herbaceous annual plant of the family Rubiaceae.

<i>Houstonia caerulea</i> Species of plant

Houstonia caerulea, commonly known as azure bluet, Quaker ladies, or bluets, is a perennial species in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States. It is found in a variety of habitats such as cliffs, alpine zones, forests, meadows and shores of rivers or lakes.

<i>Galium palustre</i> Species of plant

Galium palustre, the common marsh bedstraw or simply marsh-bedstraw, is a herbaceous annual plant of the family Rubiaceae. This plant is widely distributed, native to virtually every country in Europe, plus Morocco, the Azores, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Western Siberia, Greenland, eastern Canada, St. Pierre & Miquelon, and parts of the United States. The species is classified as a noxious weed in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire. It is considered naturalized in Kamchatka, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina.

<i>Galium boreale</i> Species of flowering plant

Galium boreale or northern bedstraw is a species of perennial flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is widespread over the temperate and subarctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America including most of Canada and the northern United States.

<i>Galium sylvaticum</i> Species of plant

Galium sylvaticum, commonly known as Scotch mist or wood bedstraw, is a plant species of the genus Rubiaceae. Its genus name, Galium, is derived from the Greek word for "milk," apparently because some species have been used to curdle milk.

<i>Smilax glauca</i> Species of flowering plant

Smilax glauca, the cat greenbriar or catbriar is a woody vine in the family Smilacaceae. It is native to central and eastern portions of the United States as well as Mexico, where it is a common and conspicuous part of the forest vegetation.

<i>Galium murale</i> Species of plant

Galium murale is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family known by the common names small goosegrass, yellow wall bedstraw and tiny bedstraw. It is native to the Mediterranean Basin of southern Europe and northern Africa, and the Middle East from Turkey and the Caucasus east to Iran and south to Saudi Arabia and Somalia. It is also considered native to the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores. It is naturalised in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and California.

<i>Anemonoides blanda</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Anemonoides blanda, syn. Anemone blanda, the Balkan anemone, Grecian windflower, or winter windflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. The species is native to southeastern Europe and the Middle East. The specific epithet blanda means "mild" or "charming". The genus name is derived from the Greek word anemos, or wind.

<i>Castilleja coccinea</i> Species of plant

Castilleja coccinea, commonly known as scarlet Indian paintbrush or scarlet painted-cup, is a biennial flowering plant in the Orobanchaceae (broomrape) family. It is usually found in prairies, rocky glades, moist and open woodlands, thickets, and along streams in central and eastern North America.

<i>Galium asprellum</i> Species of plant

Galium asprellum, the rough bedstraw, is a plant species in the family Rubiaceae. It native to eastern Canada and northeastern United States, from North Carolina and Tennessee north to Minnesota, Ontario and Newfoundland. It is considered a noxious weed in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, and is abundantly common in the other New England states and in sections of the Great Lakes region. It is a perennial herb. Leaves are simple with three or more leaves per node. Flowers have four petals and are white in color.

<i>Galium concinnum</i> Species of plant

Galium concinnum, known as the shining bedstraw, is a herbaceous perennial plant species in the Rubiaceae family. It is native to the Midwestern United States and central Canada, especially the Great Lakes Region and the Valleys of the Ohio, lower Missouri, and upper Mississippi Rivers. It is commonly found in deciduous forests and forest edges. It grows low to the ground in natural habitats. Although it is not an invasive species, it can be very weedy. It is typically not cultivated.

<i>Galium obtusum</i> Species of flowering plant

Galium obtusum, the bluntleaf bedstraw, is a herbaceous plant species in the family Rubiaceae. Bluntleaf bedstraw is a wildflower native to eastern North America.

<i>Galium proliferum</i> Species of plant

Galium proliferum, also known as limestone bedstraw, is a species of plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is native to Northeastern Mexico and the Southeastern United States. More specifically, it can be found in American states California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, as well as the Mexican states Coahuila and Nuevo León.

<i>Galium stellatum</i> Species of plant

Galium stellatum, the starry bedstraw or desert bedstraw, is a species of plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is widespread across most of Arizona, and found also in Baja California, Baja California Sur, southeastern California, Nevada, Utah. It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.

<i>Hypericum tenuifolium</i> Species of flowering plant in the St Johns wort family Hypericaceae

Hypericum tenuifolium, known as Atlantic St. John's-wort and sandhill St. John's-wort, is a species of flowering plant in the St. John's wort family, Hypericaceae. It is native to the Southeastern United States.

<i>Hypericum suffruticosum</i> Species of flowering plant in the St Johns wort family Hypericaceae

Hypericum suffruticosum, known as pineland St. John's-wort, is a species of flowering plant in the St. John's wort family, Hypericaceae. It is native to the Southeastern United States.

<i>Hypericum frondosum</i> Species of flowering plant in the St Johns wort family Hypericaceae

Hypericum frondosum, the cedarglade St. Johnswort or golden St. John's wort, is a species of flowering plant in the St. John's wort family, Hypericaceae. It is native to the central and southeastern United States in dry, rocky habitats.

References

  1. ↑ "Galium circaezans". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014.
  2. ↑ "Galium circaezans". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. ↑ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  4. ↑ "Galium circaezans | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  5. 1 2 3 "Galium circaezans - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  6. ↑ "Galium circaezans Michx. — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  7. ↑ "Galium circaezans Michx. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  8. ↑ "Galium circaezans - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  9. ↑ "Galium circaezans (forest licorice bedstraw): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  10. ↑ Weakley, Alan S.; Southeastern Flora Team (March 4, 2024). "Flora of the Southeastern United States" (PDF). North Carolina Botanical Garden. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  11. ↑ "Galium circaezans (forest licorice bedstraw): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  12. ↑ "Galium circaezans (forest licorice bedstraw): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  13. ↑ Weakley, Alan S.; Southeastern Flora Team (March 4, 2024). "Flora of the Southeastern United States" (PDF). North Carolina Botanical Garden. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  14. ↑ Jordaan, M.; Steyn, H. M. (2012-12-09). "Rubiaceae". Bothalia. 42 (2): 204–209. doi:10.4102/abc.v42i2.21. ISSN   2311-9284.
  15. ↑ "Definition of RUBIACEAE". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
  16. ↑ Ali Kanso, Mayssaloune; Ali Hijazi, Mohamed; El-Lakany, Abdalla; Aboul-Ela, Maha (2024). "Review on phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of genus Galium". Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. doi:10.7324/JAPS.2024.195572. ISSN   2231-3354.
  17. ↑ Weakley, Alan S.; Southeastern Flora Team (March 4, 2024). "Flora of the Southeastern United States" (PDF). North Carolina Botanical Garden. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  18. ↑ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  19. ↑ Weakley, Alan S.; Southeastern Flora Team (March 4, 2024). "Flora of the Southeastern United States" (PDF). North Carolina Botanical Garden. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  20. ↑ Davidson, Robert (1960-01-01). "Plant Communities of Southeastern Iowa". Proceedings of the Iowa Academy of Science. 67 (1): 162–173. ISSN   0085-2236.
  21. ↑ "Galium circaezans - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  22. 1 2 "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  23. ↑ "Galium circaezans (forest licorice bedstraw): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  24. 1 2 "Galium circaezans - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  25. ↑ Gaddy, L. L. (1986). "Twelve New Ant-Dispersed Species from the Southern Appalachians". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 113 (3): 247–251. doi:10.2307/2996363. ISSN   0040-9618.
  26. 1 2 Gaddy, L. L. (1986). "Twelve New Ant-Dispersed Species from the Southern Appalachians". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. 113 (3): 247–251. doi:10.2307/2996363. ISSN   0040-9618.
  27. 1 2 Gilbert, Frank A. (1938). "Notes on Plants from Southern West Virginia II". Castanea. 3 (5): 68–70. ISSN   0008-7475.
  28. ↑ Gilbert, Frank A. (1938). "Notes on Plants from Southern West Virginia II". Castanea. 3 (5): 68–70. ISSN   0008-7475.
  29. ↑ "Galium circaezans - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  30. ↑ Weakley, Alan S.; Southeastern Flora Team (March 4, 2024). "Flora of the Southeastern United States" (PDF). North Carolina Botanical Garden. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  31. ↑ The Morton Abroretum. "Consortium of Midwest Herbaria".
  32. ↑ Oldenburg, Ruth (2021-05-26). "Natives to Know: Enchanter's Nightshade". Wild Ones River City - Grand Rapids Area Chapter. Retrieved 2024-10-24.


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