Marsh-bedstraw
Galium palustre
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galium_palustre
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Galium
Marsh-bedstraw belongs to the family Rubiaceae, order Gentianales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Marsh-bedstraw faces severe threats from widespread wetland habitat destruction and degradation due to agricultural conversion, urban development, and water management practices. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and water levels in remaining marsh habitats, while pollution from agricultural runoff and invasive species competition further compromise the specialized wetland ecosystems this species depends upon.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Marsh-bedstraw occupies wet meadows, marshes, fens, and the margins of ponds and slow-moving streams, typically in areas with consistently moist to waterlogged soils. The species thrives in nutrient-rich wetland environments from lowland areas up to moderate elevations, often associated with sedge communities and other moisture-loving vegetation.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Marsh-bedstraw faces severe threats from widespread wetland habitat destruction and degradation due to agricultural conversion, urban development, and water management practices. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and water levels in remaining marsh habitats, while pollution from agricultural runoff and invasive species competition further compromise the specialized wetland ecosystems this species depends upon.
Agricultural conversion and intensification
Water level changes from climate change
Wetland habitat loss and fragmentation
Competition from invasive plant species
Pollution from agricultural runoff
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Marsh-bedstraw (Galium palustre). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/marsh-bedstraw