Tangled Bedstraw - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Galium australe

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 17 Dec 2004

Profile last updated: 21 Sep 2021

Description

Tangled Bedstraw is a straggling and inter-twining herb with weak, hairy stems to 60 cm long. The leaves are in whorls of four; each is up to 12 mm long by 4 mm wide. One to seven small (about 2 mm long) white flowers occur on stalks to 12 mm long. Fruits are about 1.5 mm long with numerous hooked hairs.

Distribution

Tangled Bedstraw is widespread in Victoria and Tasmania and is also found in South Australia (and ACT Territory in Jervis Bay). Following a taxonomic revision, many recent records in NSW have been re-determined as other species. Tangled Bedstraw has been recorded historically in the Nowra (Colymea) and Narooma areas and is extant in Nadgee Nature Reserve, south of Eden. Records in the Sydney area are yet to be confirmed.

Habitat and ecology

Most flowering collections have been made in late spring to early autumn.
In NSW (and ACT Territory in Jervis Bay), Tangled Bedstraw has been recorded in Turpentine forest and coastal Acacia shrubland.
In other States the species is found in a range of near-coastal habitats, including sand dunes, sand spits, shrubland and woodland.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Critically low population numbers in some populations
Grazing by domestic stock.
Absence of a forest or woodland buffer around remnants exacerbates other threats
Rubbish dumping and visitor use.
Lack of information on the species in NSW to inform a conservation management strategy.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Fence off population adjoining urban development.
Conserve all populations
Carry out experimental burning in dense shrubland population.

Information sources

Harden, G.J. (ed.) (1992) Flora of New South Wales Vol. 3. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
Jessop, J.P. and Toelken, H.R. (eds.) (1986) Flora of South Australia. Part ll. (South Australian Government Printing Division, Adelaide)
NSW Scientific Committee (2004) Galium australe (a herb) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.
Society for Growing Australian Plants, Maroondah (1993) Flora of Melbourne; a guide to the indigenous plants of the Greater Melbourne Area. Hyland House, South Melbourne.
Walsh, N.G. and Entwisle, T.J. (1999) Flora of Victoria; Volume 4, Dicotyledons Cornaceae to Asteraceae. (Inkata Press, Melbourne)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

NSW North Coast	Comboyne Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
Ocean	Twofold Shelf	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Known	East of Shoalhaven River
South Eastern Highlands	Kybeyan-Gourock	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Cumberland	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Ettrema	Known	Areas not on hawkesbury sandstone
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None

Images

Flower, foliage and branchlets, Tangled Bedstraw
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