Galium hypotrichium
| alpine bedstraw | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Galium |
| Species: | G. hypotrichium |
| Binomial name | |
| Galium hypotrichium A.Gray | |
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 habitat, including parts of the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada. The species has been reported from the states of California, Nevada and Utah.[1][2]
Galium hypotrichiumis 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]
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
