Taxon Report

Galium californicum H. & A. ssp. sierrae Dempster & Steb.

El Dorado bedstraw

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Galium californicum ssp. sierrae, commonly known as El Dorado bedstraw, is a perennial herb in the Rubiaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, and Lower montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 100 to 585 meters. Galium californicum ssp. sierrae is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Galium californicum H. & A. ssp. sierrae Dempster & Steb.
Common Name:	El Dorado bedstraw
Family:	Rubiaceae
Element Code:	PDRUB0N0E7
USDA Plants Symbol:	GACAS
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: May-Jun	May-Jun
Elevation:	100-585 (330-1920)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Gabbroic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G5T1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	CR
Fed List:	FE
Other Status:	SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_UCBG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	17
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	4
Good (B)	8
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	4

Location


California Endemic: True
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
El Dorado (ELD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Clarksville (3812161), Pilot Hill (3812171), Shingle Springs (3812068)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	9
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	14	82 %
Development	10	58%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	4	23%
Road/trail construction/maint.	2	11%
Non-native plant impacts	2	11%
Recreational use (non-ORV)	1	5%
Disease	1	5%
Disking	1	5%
Erosion/runoff	1	5%
Foot traffic/trampling	1	5%

Notes



Threatened by development, vehicles, and recreational activities. See University of California Publications in Botany 46:30 (1968) for original description, and Flora of California 4(2):39-40 (1979) by L. Dempster for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 24 October 2025].