Galium boreale
 
Northern Bedstraw

Middle Leaf Whorl Bottom

Centre Block, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
18-July-2012

Technically, two of the four "leaves" comprising the whorl are foliaceous stipules.  However, it is difficult to tell which is a true leaf and which is a stipule.  Note that each leaf/stipule has three prominent nerves.

bullet

Boreale: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species.
bullet

stem stiff, erect; NOT [stem weak, matted or ascending]

bullet

principal stem leaves in whorls of 4; NOT [principal stem leaves in whorls of 6 or 8]

bullet

leaves 3-nerved; NOT [leaves 1-nerved]

bullet

ovary bristly or hairy; NOT [ovary glabrous]

bullet

fruit bristly or hairy; NOT [fruit glabrous]

 

bullet

Galium: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
bullet

stems square

bullet

leaves whorled; NOT [leaves opposite]

bullet

inflorescence of open cymes; NOT [inflorescence a head, subtended by bracts]

bullet

corolla rotate; NOT [corolla slender-funnelform]

 

bullet

Rubiaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
bullet

herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

bullet

plants green or with some chlorophyll; NOT [plants parasitic or saprophytic, with chlorophyll]

bullet

plants without milky juice; NOT [plants often with milky juice]

bullet

not climbing plants; NOT [climbing plants with tendrils]

bullet

leaves opposite; NOT [leaves basal or alternate]

bullet

leaves with stipules, appearing whorled; NOT [leaves without stipules]

bullet

flowers NOT in heads or spikes; NOT [flowers in long or short spikes], NOT [flowers in heads or in form resembling a head]