''Galium'' is a large
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
annual
Annual may refer to:
* Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year
**Yearbook
** Literary annual
* Annual plant
* Annual report
* Annual giving
* Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco
* Annuals (b ...
and
perennial
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
herb
In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...
aceous plants in the family
Rubiaceae
The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules ...
, occurring in the
temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...
zones of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Some species are informally known as bedstraw.
There are over 600 species of ''Galium'', with estimates of 629
to 650
''Galium''.
The Jepson eFlora 2013. as of 2013. The field madder, ''Sherardia arvensis
''Sherardia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. ''Sherardia arvensis'' or (blue) field madder, which is widespread across most of Europe and northern Africa as well as sou ...
'', is a close relative and may be confused with a tiny bedstraw. ''Asperula
''Asperula'', commonly known as woodruff, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It contains 194 species and has a wide distribution area from Europe, northern Africa, temperate and subtropical Asia to Australasia.
Species
* ' ...
'' is also a closely related genus; some species of ''Galium'' (such as woodruff, '' G. odoratum'') are occasionally placed therein.
See also
* List of Lepidoptera that feed on ''Galium''
* List of ''Galium'' species
References
External links
*
World Checklist of Rubiaceae
*
Rubiaceae genera
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
{{Galium-stub