PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Marsh Bedstraw (Galium palustre)

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Photo by USDA-NRCS

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Marsh Bedstraw (Galium palustre), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in marshes along the west shore of Green Bay, often on floating mats. Blooming occurs late-June through late-July, fruiting early-July through late-August. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through August.

 
 
 

Marsh bedstraw is an erect forb, 20-60cm tall, with slender stems that are minutely and sparsely rough on the angles and not bearded. Its inflorescence is made up of a repeatedly branching cyme with 10-25 flowers above the leaflike bract. Pedicels are short and slender, mostly ascending at anthesis, widely spreading or somewhat reflexed in fruit. Corolla are white, 4mm broad, with 4 acute petals. Fruits are 2mm and smooth. Leaves are linear to narrowly oblanceolate, 5-15mm long, in whorls of in of 5-6, and blunt.

Blooming occurs late-June through late-July, fruiting early-July through late-August.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through August.

Associated species include Phalaris arundinacea, Potentilla norvegica, Scutellaria galericulata, Polygonum species, Eleocharis species, and Bidens cernua.

Marsh bedstraw is found in marshes along the west shore of Green Bay, often on floating mats.

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.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

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.