Galium sparsiflorum
Sequoia bedstraw
(c) Alexander Wentworth, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rubiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Galium sparsiflorum (Sequoia bedstraw) is a native California subshrub in the Rubiaceae family, recognized by distinctive dioecious habit and berry fruits.
Sequoia bedstraw is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in mixed conifer forest and montane woodland habitats. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces small yellow-green flowers in loose, open clusters with rotate corollas. Growing with erect stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms a loose tufted habit with a woody base. Its leaves grow in whorls of four, measuring 6 to 25 millimeters long, with widely elliptic to ovate shapes and three prominent veins ending in softly pointed tips. The plant produces small berries, occasionally featuring fine hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive dioecious habit and berry fruits
Habitat and range
California counties: Madera, Trinity, Merced, Fresno, Mariposa, Glenn, El Dorado, Tulare, Placer, Tehama, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Yuba, Kern
How to tell it apart
vs Eriogonum: Galium has whorled leaves and tiny flowers; Eriogonum has alternate/basal leaves and dense flower clusters with papery bracts.; vs Sherardia: Galium flowers have stalks and no sepals; Sherardia flowers lack stalks and have six prominent sepals.; vs Baccharis: Galium has whorled leaves and tiny four-petaled flowers; Baccharis has alternate leaves and composite flower heads.; vs Lupinus: Galium has whorled narrow leaves and tiny rotate flowers; Lupinus has palmate compound leaves and pea-like flowers.; vs Euphorbia: Galium has whorled leaves and four-petaled flowers; Euphorbia has alternate leaves and milky sap with specialized flower cups.
Frequently asked questions
Is Galium sparsiflorum native to California?
Yes. Galium sparsiflorum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Galium sparsiflorum grow?
Galium sparsiflorum occurs in Madera, Trinity, Merced, Fresno, Mariposa, Glenn, El Dorado, Tulare and other counties.
What plant family does Galium sparsiflorum belong to?
Galium sparsiflorum is in the Rubiaceae family, genus Galium.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.