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RUBIACEAE

MADDER FAMILY

Lauramay T. Dempster

Annual, perennial herb, shrub, vine, tree
Leaves generally opposite, entire; stipules generally on stem, sometimes leaf-like (then leaves apparently whorled and stipules considered leaves), adjacent pairs sometimes fused
Inflorescence: cyme, panicle, cluster, or flower solitary, generally terminal and ± axillary
Flower generally bisexual; calyx generally ± 4-lobed, sometimes 0; corolla generally radial, 4-lobed; stamens epipetalous, alternate corolla lobes, generally included; ovary generally inferior, chambers generally 2 or 4, style 1, ± fused if 2
Fruit: 2 or 4 nutlets or a berry, drupe, or capsule
Genera in family: ± 500 genera, 6000 species: worldwide, especially tropical; many cultivated (including Coffea , coffee; Cinchona , quinine; many ornamental)
Reference: [Dempster 1979 Fl CA 4(2):1–47]

GALIUM

BEDSTRAW, CLEAVERS

Annual, perennial herb, sometimes ± shrubby, often ± dioecious, glabrous or hairy, often scabrous
Stem when young 4-angled
Leaves in whorls of 4 or more, including leaf-like stipules
Inflorescence: panicle, or axillary clusters of 1–many flowers
Flower bisexual or unisexual (with sterile stamens or pistils); calyx 0; corolla generally rotate, sometimes ± bell-shaped, generally greenish, fading yellow or white, sometimes reddish, lobes generally 4; ovary 2-lobed, styles 2, ± fused basally
Fruit: 2 nutlets or 1 berry
Species in genus: ± 400 species: worldwide, especially temp
Etymology: (Greek: milk, from use of some species in its curdling)
Hairiness of ovary and fruit generally ± equal on a single plant; staminate plants often identified only by association with pistillate.

Introduced

G. murale (L.) All.

TINY BEDSTRAW

Annual, erect or spreading, glabrous except leaf margin and tip
Stem 1–6.5 cm
Leaves in whorls of 4–6, 1–3 mm, obovate to oblanceolate; tip often with a slender hair
Inflorescence: flowers 1–2 in axils, ± sessile
Flower bisexual; corolla 1 mm, green, fading yellow or white, lobes ascending, < half as long as ovary, ovate, obtuse at tip
Fruit: nutlets, each sausage-shaped; hairs unevenly distributed, hooked
Chromosomes: 2n=44
Ecology: Locally abundant. Damp, mossy places, undergrowth on grassy hillsides
Elevation: 20–650 m.
Bioregional distribution: c Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: native to Europe

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