Nevada Bedstraw - Galium hypotrichium subsp. nevadense

 Another bedstraw, this one called Nevada bedstraw (Galium hypotichium subsp. nevadense).  This member of the Madder Family (Rubiaceae) grows in Nevada and Utah in pinyon-juniper areas and higher. Leaves are in whorls, the plant is about 20 cm high, and small white flowers are found on the upper half.

 The species is dioecious, with male flowers (above) on some plants, and female flowers (below) on other plants. The female flowers are much easier to photograph!

For more info on Nevada bedstraw from the USDA Plants Database, click here.

Threepetal Bedstraw - Galium trifidum ssp. columbianum

 This is a tiny plant that grows in wetlands, but it looks much like the larger version that is common, stickywilly or common bedstraw. This is threepetal bedstraw (Galium trifidum ssp. columbianum). It grows in western North America. The plants were only about three-four inches high.

 Flowers have three petals and later a dark fruit will appear.

For more info on threepetal bedstraw from the USDA plants database, click here.

Stickywilly-Galium aparine

This is also a new family for this blog, the Madder Family (Rubiaceae). We have six species of bedstraw (Galium) in this family in this area. The common name recognized by the Plants Database for this plant is Stickywilly (Galium aparine). Other names are cleavers, goose grass, and common bedstraw.

This species has leaves in wholrs of 5 to 8 and is an annual. The stems and leaves will cling to cloth. It is often found in riparian areas below 7,500 feet.

The tiny white flowers have four petals.
For more information about stickywilly (I really can't say that name with a straight face!), click here.