Forest Bedstraw, Licorice Bedstraw, Forest Licorice Bedstraw, Smooth Wild Licorice, Wild Licorice, Wild White Licorice

Galium circaezans

GAL-ee-um  ?

Synonyms of Galium circaezans (9) (Updated on 12-24-23 from Plants of the World Online): Galium boreale Walter, Galium brachiatum Muhl., Galium circaeoides Roem. & Schult., Galium circaezans var. glabellum Britton, Galium circaezans var. glabrum Britton, Galium circaezans var. hypomalacum Fernald, Galium circaezans var. montanum Torr. & A.Gray, Galium circaezans var. typicum Fernald, Galium rotundifolium var. circaezans (Michx.) Kuntze

Galium circaezans Michx. is the accepted scientific name for this species. It was named and described as such by André Michaux in Flora Boreali-Americana in 1803.

The genus, Galium L., was named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 12-24-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 643 species in the Galium genus. It is a member of the plant family Rubiaceae with 611 genera.

The above distribution map for Galium circaezans is from the USDA Plants Database. Areas in green show where the species is native.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND FOR A POSITIVE ID.

Hello! I first found this Galium circaezans in the brush along the Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail that runs along the south side of the farm. At first glance, I thought it was a Silene stellata (Starry Campion), but when I uploaded the photos on my computer I noticed something was a little different…

Then I used the drag-and-drop feature on iNaturalist, the #1 suggested name was Galium circaezans… Common names include Licorice Bedstraw, Forrest Bedstraw, Forest Licorice Bedstraw, White Licorice, Wild White Licorice, and probably others. It depends on what website you are reading. As always, I went to the Missouri Plants website to make sure. Sure enough, I had found Galium circaezans!

Being it is a Galium species, it is a cousin of the dreaded Galium aparine (Cleavers, Catchweed Bedstraw, Sock Destroyer). Where the entire plant of Galium aparine has a sticky feeling and will stick to anything, this species isn’t like that at all.

Gallium circaezans is a perennial wildflower in the plant family Rubiaceae. It is found throughout Missouri woodlands and from the central United States eastward and up into Canada. It is easily overlooked but can be identified by having four leaves per node, small greenish flowers in an open panicle from the axils of the upper leaf nodes, and fruit with hooked hairs. The root system is fibrous and rhizomatous and may have the scent of licorice. I’m not sure because I haven’t taken a whiff yet.

The preferred habitat is woodlands with filtered sun to medium shade in fairly damp loamy to rocky soil, preferably with a covering of decaying leaves. It can also tolerate dry conditions.

A few days later on June 16, I was working on a friend’s landscaping, and there was another one next to a blue spruce. Luckily I had the camera…

The 4-angled stems, sometimes branching out at the base, are light green and moderately to densely hairy (pubescent) between the angles with fine, straight to upward-curved hairs. 

The leaves grow in whorls of 4 along the stems and grow to about 2 1/2” long and 1” wide. They can be ovate, ovate-lanceolate, or lanceolate in shape with smooth margins. They are sessile (no petioles/leaf stems) and are angled or somewhat rounded at the base and taper to a bluntly or sharply pointed tip. The leaves have three prominent veins, the upper surface is glabrous (not hairy) or may have very short fine hairs, while the lower surface and margins may have fine stiff hairs, especially on the veins.

The stems terminate with a forked inflorescence with 1-3 branch points. The spreading branches can be fairly long and there are up to 4 bracts at the base of the forks. The branches are also 4-angles and pubescent (hairy).

The small flowers are about 1/8” wide and consist of a corolla that is deeply 4-lobed, greenish-white or greenish-yellow in color, and have 4 stamens that are attached to the corolla tube with exerted anthers. The inferior 2-celled (locular) ovary with 2 capitate stigmas. The ovary has 1 ovule per locule (producing 1 seed per cell).

Plants produce flowers from May through July.

Once pollinated, the ovaries are replaced by a 2-celled fruit (schizocarp) with hooked hairs (bristles) that catch onto fur and clothing. Supposedly, although I haven’t checked, one cell contains a seed while the other cell contains a small fleshy eliosome that ants use as food. The ants take the fruit to their nests and discard the seed. Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s Breeches) similarly uses eliosomes to attract ants to disperse seeds, but the fruit is completely different. I couldn’t find any photos online of the inside of the fruit of Galium circaezans. Now I am curious…

The Missouri Plants website has been my number-one site for confirming and identifying wildflowers on the farm and other areas. The site has great descriptions and photos of many species found in Missouri that are also found in other states. Photos can be used for non-commercial educational uses with proper captioning. Click HERE to go to their page for this species.

The summer of 2023 was very hot and dry and most wildflowers had fizzled out by midsummer. Hopefully, I can do more wildflower hunting in 2024 and find this species again. I definitely need more photos to replace the two I borrowed. Of course, I need to check the fruit…

I have enjoyed photographing and learning about the many wildflowers growing on the family farm and in other areas nearby. The farm is in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be variable from location to location, so that can be a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
GO BOTANY
FLORA FINDER
MARYLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂