''Galium'' is a large
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
annual
Annual may refer to:
*Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year
**Yearbook
**Literary annual
*Annual plant
*Annual report
*Annual giving
*Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco
*Annuals (band), a ...
and
perennial
In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
herb
Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distingu ...
aceous plants in the family
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae () is a family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with Petiole ( ...
, occurring in the
temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...
zones of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Some species are informally known as bedstraw.
Over 600 species of ''Galium'' are described, with estimates of 629
to 650 as of 2013. The field madder, ''
Sherardia arvensis
''Sherardia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, ''Sherardia arvensis'', the (blue) field madder, which is widespread across most of Europe and northern Africa as well as southw ...
'', is a close relative and may be confused with a tiny bedstraw. ''
Asperula
''Asperula'', commonly known as woodruff, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It contains 91 species and has a wide distribution area from Europe, northern Africa, temperate and subtropical Asia to Australasia
Australasi ...
'' is also a closely related genus; some species of ''Galium'' (such as woodruff, ''
G. odoratum'') are occasionally placed therein.
Genetic variability
The phenotypic plasticity and genetic variability of this species allows it to be constantly shifting to best fit its environment, adjusting lifecycles, seed germination, productivity, growth form, freezing tolerance, etc. Herbicides at the recommended amount are not effective enough to decrease catchweed bedstraw biomass or population, twice the amount is needed.
As invasive species
Cattle and other livestock do not often feed on this plant, making it thrive and dominating over other species. ''
G. mollugo'' in particular, is a thriving invasive species, since it can dominate in areas where other alien species would not be able to, growing very fast in best conditions.
[The biology of Canadian weeds. 121. Galium mollugo L. D. Mersereau and A. DiTommaso Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA 14853, 2002]
See also
*
List of ''Galium'' species
References
External links
*
World Checklist of Rubiaceae*
Rubiaceae genera
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
{{Galium-stub