smooth wild licorice (TVA, White's Creek Small Wild Area, Plants)

smooth wild licorice

Galium circaezans

Summary ⁵

Galium circaezans, common name licorice bedstraw, is a plant species in the Rubiaceae. It is native to the eastern half of the United States from the Great Plains to the Atlantic, plus Quebec and Ontario. There are also a few isolated populations in Washington State, probably adventive. The species is classified as a noxious weed in New York and Pennsylvania.

Comments ⁶

While the flowers are not very showy, the foliage is reasonably attractive. Wild Licorice has larger leaves than most Galium spp. (Bedstraws). In addition to this characteristic, it can be distinguished from other bedstraws by its whorls of 4 leaves, pubescent leaves, bristly fruit, and/or flowers that are sessile along the branches of each inflorescence. A very similar species, Galium lanceolatum (Lance-Leaved Wild Licorice), has hairless leaves that are more narrow toward their tips, and its flowers are usually purple. Both of these species prefer shaded habitats that are rather dry.

Faunal associations ⁷

The flowers are visited sparingly by small bees and miscellaneous flies; these insects usually seek nectar. The caterpillars of several moths feed on Galium spp. (Bedstraws), including Lobocleta ossularia (Drab Brown Wave), Pleuroprucha insularia (Common Tan Wave), Scopula limboundata (Large Lace Border), Epirrhoe alternata (White-Banded Toothed Carpet), and Hyles gallii (Galium Sphinx). Bedstraws are summer hosts of Myzus cerasi (Black Cherry Aphid); another aphid, Aphis gossypii (Cotton Aphid), has been found on the leaves of Wild Licorice. Among vertebrate animals, the Eastern Box Turtle occasionally eats the foliage of bedstraws in woodlands; White-Tailed Deer also eat the foliage of these plants to a limited extent. The hooked bristles of the fruits can cling to the fur of mammals and the clothing of humans; this distributes the seeds into new areas. Because each fruit contains an elaiosome that is attractive to ants, these insects also help to distribute the seeds.

Sources and Credits

(c) arghman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/23279995@N00/2828407633
(c) Vilseskogen, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Vilseskogen, https://www.flickr.com/photos/vilseskogen/14387284630/
(c) Melissa McMasters, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/132545975@N04/18528741884/
(c) Melissa McMasters, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/132545975@N04/19145534792/
Adapted by Jonathan (JC) Carpenter from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galium_circaezans
(c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29445270
(c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/29445269

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