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Galium circaezans

Michx.

Wild Licorice

G5Secure Found in 10 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.140626
Element CodePDRUB0N0G0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderRubiales
FamilyRubiaceae
GenusGalium
Other Common Names
Gaillet fausse-circée (FR) licorice bedstraw (EN) Licorice Bedstraw (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-20
Change Date1984-05-16
Edition Date2024-08-20
Edition AuthorsGeoffrey Hall (1998), rev. Johnson, J. (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Galium circaezans is a perennial herb native to the eastern United States and southern Canada. With a large range extent, more than 300 occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Galium circaezans is native to the eastern United States and southern Canada, from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast (Native Plant Trust 2024, Weakley and Southeastern Flora Team 2024, GBIF 2024). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are more than 300 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Galium circaezans is potentially threatened by development, road maintenance, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Galium circaezans var. circaezans grows in mesic to dry-mesic deciduous forests and woodlands, balds, ridges (Native Plant Trust 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandShrubland/chaparralBare rock/talus/scree
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS3Yes
OntarioS5Yes
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
FloridaSNRYes
South CarolinaS5Yes
IllinoisSNRYes
KansasS5Yes
New YorkSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
IowaS4Yes
MarylandSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
LouisianaS3Yes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
TennesseeSNRYes
MissouriSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
MassachusettsSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
MississippiSNRYes
West VirginiaS5Yes
KentuckyS5Yes
ConnecticutSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
GeorgiaSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
DelawareSNRYes
VermontS5Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
IndianaS5Yes
MaineSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
North CarolinaS5Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undeterminedUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (10)
Arkansas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Indian CreekOzark-St. Francis National Forest7,855
Little BlakelyOuachita National Forest3,342
Illinois (1)
AreaForestAcres
Ripple HollowShawnee National Forest3,788
Kentucky (1)
AreaForestAcres
WolfpenDaniel Boone National Forest2,835
North Carolina (3)
AreaForestAcres
Cheoah BaldNantahala National Forest7,795
Laurel MountainPisgah National Forest5,683
South Mills RiverPisgah National Forest8,588
Pennsylvania (1)
AreaForestAcres
Allegheny FrontAllegheny National Forest7,430
Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Three RidgesGeorge Washington National Forest4,745
West Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Middle MountainMonongahela National Forest19,020
References (7)
  1. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  2. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  3. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  4. Native Plant Trust. 2024. Go Botany website. Online. Available: https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org (accessed 2024).
  5. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).
  7. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2024. Flora of the southeastern United States. Edition of March 4, 2024. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 2203 pp.