Taxon Report

Galium buxifolium Greene

box bedstraw

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Species Description:
Galium buxifolium, commonly known as box bedstraw, is a perennial deciduous shrub in the Rubiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal bluff scrub, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 5 to 400 meters. Galium buxifolium is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification

Scientific Name:
Galium buxifolium Greene
Common Name:
box bedstraw
Family: Rubiaceae
Element Code: PDRUB0N0D0
USDA Plants Symbol: GABU
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial deciduous shrub
Blooming Period: Mar-Jul Mar-Jul
Elevation: 5-400 (15-1310)
General Habitats: Closed-cone coniferous forest, Coastal bluff scrub, Coastal scrub
Microhabitat: Rocky
Microhabitat Details:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 17
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 5
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 2
   None (X) 1
   Unknown (U) 9
California Endemic:  True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Barbara (SBA)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
San Miguel Island East (3312083), Santa Cruz Island A (3311987), Santa Cruz Island B (3311986), Santa Cruz Island C (3311985)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 1
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
1 6 %
Erosion/runoff 1 5%

Notes

Known from approximately 10 occurrences. Previously threatened by feral herbivores. Currently threatened by non-native plants and habitat alteration, and possibly by climate change. See Bulletin of the California Academy of Sciences 2:150 (1886) for original description, and Flora of California 4(2):20-21 (1979) by L. Dempster for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:
Taxonomy:
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 14 January 2025].