| Author | Michaux | |
| Distribution | Throughout the Mountains and foothills of the Piedmont, and also in the northwestern Piedmont east to Stokes and Forsyth counties.
This is a central and southern Appalachian species, ranging north to central PA and south down the range to northeastern AL. | |
| Abundance | Fairly common to frequent in the Mountains; uncommon to infrequent in the western and northwestern Piedmont. | |
| Habitat | This is a species of rich hardwood forests, such as cove forests. It can range into more mesic forests, as well. | |
| Phenology | Blooms from May to July, and fruits from August to September. | |
| Identification | This is an erect to leaning herb, mostly unbranched, growing to about 1.5 feet tall. The stems are generally smooth. The leaves are in whorls of 4; they are rather large for members of the genus, being lanceolate and about 2 inches long and 3/4-inch wide, with a long tapering tip that is often acuminate in shape. The inflorescences are only from the upper few whorls, in quite large and branched clusters. The purple or maroon flowers are on pedicels, which differentiates it from the similar G. lanceolatum, which has sessile whitish to cream colored flowers on mostly terminal, long flowering stalks with sessile flowers. The capsules are dry and smooth, not spiny/bristly as in the other species. However, when no flowers or fruit are present, be careful in the identification, though this species normally has more tapering leaves with narrower tips. | |
| Taxonomic Comments | None
| |
| Other Common Name(s) | Wideleaf Bedstraw | |
| State Rank | S4 | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
