Galium hispidulum
Common name: coastal bedstraw
| Galium hispidulum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo by the Atlas of Florida Plants Database | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida - Dicots |
| Order: | Rubiales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Genus: | Galium |
| Species: | G. hispidulum |
| Binomial name | |
| Galium hispidulum Michx. | |
| |
| Natural range of Galium hispidulum from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Contents
[hide]Taxonomic Notes
Synonyms: Galium bermudense L.
Varieties: none
Description
Also known as coastal bedstraw, G. hispidulum is a native perennial forb that is a member of the Rubiaceae family. [1]
Distribution
G. hispidulum is native to the southeast United States, ranging sparsely from east Louisiana and following the coastlines to Maryland and Delaware. [1]
Ecology
Habitat
G. hispidulum grows in maritime forests, dry sandy forests, and sandhills. [2] It is mostly found in well-drained soils along the Gulf coastal plain. [3] While it is present in these natural communities, G. hispidulum is only seen occasionally and not as frequent. [4] It can be found in native cover communities as well as disturbed sites. [5] More specifically, habitats of G. hispidulum can range from loamy and drying sands in pine-wiregrass or oak-hickory woodlands, in general disturbed sites like open areas and crevices along roads, sand pine scrub, sand dunes and interdunal sandy flats, and various hammocks. [6]
Associated species - Salvia lyrata, Elytraria caroliniensis, Dyschoriste humistrata, and Sanicula canadensis. [7]
Phenology
Flowering time for G. hispidulum ranges from April until August, yet also has been recorded flowering in the months of October and December. [8]
Seed dispersal
Seeds of G. hispidulum are primarily dispersed through animal consumption. [5]
Fire ecology
The species has been seen to be associated with a low rate of fire dependence, where the community is not burned as often as other normal sites. [9]
Use by animals
It is a minor source of herbivory for large mammals in its respective communities. [1]
Conservation and Management
This plant is listed as endangered by the states of Maryland and New Jersey and their Department of Environmental Protection. [1]
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
References and notes
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 USDA Plants Database URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=GAHI
- Jump up ↑ Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
- Jump up ↑ Allen, C. M. (2013). "Notes on the identification and distribution of the species of the genus Galium (Rubiaceae) in Louisiana." Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 7: 509-513.
- Jump up ↑ Rodgers, H. L. and L. Provencher (1999). "Analysis of Longleaf Pine Sandhill Vegetation in Northwest Florida." Castanea 64(2): 138-162.
- ↑ Jump up to: 5.0 5.1 Creech, M. N., et al. (2012). "Alteration and Recovery of Slash Pile Burn Sites in the Restoration of a Fire-Maintained Ecosystem." Restoration Ecology 20(4): 505-516.
- Jump up ↑ Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, John B. Nelson, R. K. Godfrey, C. Jackson, Sidney McDaniel, William R, Stimson, Tom Barnes, Angus Gholson, Wm. G. Atwater, S. Warren, John Morrill, A. F. Clewell, Gwynn W. Ramsey, S. Mitchell, Robert L. Lazor, A. H. Curtiss, Robert F. Thome, R. Kral, Siri von Reis, Gary R. Knight, R. A. Norris, Walter Kittredge, Kevin Oakes, J. M. Kane, John Schmiederer, and Cecil R. Slaughter. States and counties: Florida: Wakulla, Leon, Franklin, Volusia, Citrus, Jackson, Flagler, St Johns, Dade, Levy, Okaloosa, Walton, Dixie, Pinellas, Sarasota, Hernando, Bay, Suwannee, Gadsden, Washington, and Madison. Georgia: Baker, Thomas, and Camden.
- Jump up ↑ Hill, N. M., et al. (2000). "Low catchment area lakes: New records for rare coastal plain shrubs and Utricularia species in Nova Scotia." Rhodora 102(912): 518-522.
- Jump up ↑ PanFLora URL: http://www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/
- Jump up ↑ Mehlman, D. W. (1992). "Effects of fire on plant community composition of North Florida second growth pineland." Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 119(4): 376-383.
