Galium tricornutum
Rough corn bedstraw, Rough Corn Bedstraw
(c) Dmitriy Bochkov, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rubiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Galium tricornutum (Rough corn bedstraw) is a native California herb in the Rubiaceae family, recognized by distinctive prickly leaf margins and large tuberculate fruits.
Rough corn bedstraw is a naturalized annual herb found in northern California regions including the Sierra Nevada foothills, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and South Coast Ranges in grasslands, vernal pools, and freshwater marshes at elevations of 100 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small white rotate flowers in sparse axillary clusters. Growing with sprawling to trailing stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall that become open and dense when in flower, it spreads across the ground with a distinctive growth habit. Its leaves grow in whorls of 6 to 8, featuring narrow linear to oblanceolate blades 12 to 19 millimeters long with short recurved prickly margins. The fruit consists of nutlet pairs wider than 4 millimeters, with acute tubercles that aid in seed dispersal.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 46 sympatric species; distinctive prickly leaf margins and large tuberculate fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, vernal pools, freshwater marsh, roadsides
Elevation: 100-2000 m
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Galium tricornutum blooms Apr-May.
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 tricornutum native to California?
Yes. Galium tricornutum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Galium tricornutum bloom?
Galium tricornutum blooms Apr-May.
What plant family does Galium tricornutum belong to?
Galium tricornutum is in the Rubiaceae family, genus Galium.
What habitat does Galium tricornutum grow in?
Galium tricornutum grows in Grassland, vernal pools, freshwater marsh, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.