PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Swamp Bedstraw (Galium brevipes)

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Photo by Gary Fewless

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Swamp Bedstraw (Galium brevipes), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in southern sedge meadows, black spruce-white cedar swamps, and moist swales behind dunes, fens, and low sandy woods. Blooming occurs from mid-June through September, fruiting July through October. The optimal identification period for this species is mid-June through October.

Galium trifidum ssp. brevipes

 
 
 

Swamp bedstraw is a weakly erect forb with slender, weak, much branched stems that form dense mats that climb over other species. It has small, white, flowers with 3 petals that are borne most often singly on short (1-4mm long) pedicels that are recurved at the tip. Its fruit are glabrous, the segments divergent and nearly distinct at maturity, 1mm long. Leaves are in whorls of 4, linear, 3-7mm long, and blunt at tip.

It can be distinguished from the similar G trifidum by its pedicels, which are smooth (not scabrous) and short (1-4mm long vs 7-18mm long).

Blooming occurs from mid-June through September, fruiting July through October.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is mid-June through October.

Associated species are variable, and include Fagus grandidentata, Pinus species, Tsuga canadensis, Acer rubrum, Picea mariana, Thuja occidentalis, Eleocharis intermedia, and Hypericum boreale.

Swamp bedstraw is found in southern sedge meadows, black spruce-white cedar swamps, and moist swales behind dunes, fens, and low sandy woods.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid direct disturbance near wet areas such as small ponds, ephemeral ponds, or swales within woodlands.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Survey for and control invasive plants prior to conducting timber operations, as these can be spread by vehicles and often respond vigorously to increased light. See forestry BMPs for invasive species.

Although maintaining high overall forest canopy is important, silvicultural techniques that open small gaps in the canopy may be beneficial to this species. Seedlings and saplings of some species in openings may need to be protected from deer browse.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.