BLUNTLEAF BEDSTRAW
Galium obtusum
MADDER FAMILY (Rubiaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - May, June
- Rare - Only records are from Fontenelle Forest floodplain
- 4 white petals and whorls of 4 leaves
- Smooth, hairless fruits
- See comments for differentiation from our other 4 species of bedstraw
This native perennial grows up to 18 inches tall. The small, mostly smooth leaves, up to 1 inch long, are in whorls of 4 around a thin stem. The small white flowers with 4 petals are on long stalks in clusters of 2-4. The tiny round fruits (not shown) are smooth with no hairs or bristles. The bedstraws are not easy to tell apart. See comments for details.
This species grows on moist floodplains and near water. It is considered rare in Fontenelle Forest with only two known floodplain observations. It has not been seen at Neale Woods. Flowering occurs from May to July.
A total of 5 bedstraw species have been identified at Fontenelle Forest or Neale Woods. Only one, the more common Galium circaezens, also has leaves mainly in whorls of 4 and 4 petaled flowers, but its flowers are greenish-white rather than pure white and generally appear later in the season. It also prefers drier upland sites and its fruits are covered with hooked hairs. The other three bedstraw species all have whorls of more than 4 leaves.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Roland Barth.