Galium grayanum var. nanum

Gray's bedstraw

Family: Rubiaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Gray's bedstraw is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges in open fir forest and chaparral on gravelly or rocky slopes and ridges at elevations of 1,830 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces small white to cream-colored flowers in delicate clusters. Growing as a compact herb just 2.5 to 14 centimeters tall with densely clustered stems, it forms tight, low-growing mats across rocky terrain. Its leaves are small, narrow, and pointed, measuring 4 to 9 millimeters long with sharp acute to acuminate tips. The fruit is small and hairy, measuring 6 to 8 millimeters in total length.

Habitat: Open fir forest or chaparral, gravelly or rocky slopes and ridges

Bloom period: Jul-Aug

Elevation: 1830-2500 m

Bioregions: NCoRH

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.