In the district of Lubāna, when surveying a forest habitat that had been studied several times, Diāna Marga, an environmental planning expert of LVM, and Vija Kreile, an environmental expert of LVM, discovered a new location of the rare Fragrant Bedstraw (Galium triflorum).
“Approximately in an area of one square metre we found eight plants. There are 17 bedstraw species growing in Latvia and this year all of them have received the Plant of the Year title, however, the fragrant bedstraw is the rarest one, because in Latvia there are less than 30 locations known where they are growing,” says environmental expert.
Fragrant bedstraw is a perennial herbaceous plant that can reach a height up to 80 cm. Three flowers develop from one stalk, this is how it got its name. From June until August it can be looked for in wet and drained coniferous tree forest with a persistent microclimate. This is a specially protected species, which this time has been found in good quality specially protected habitat “Old or natural boreal forests”.