SHINING BEDSTRAW
Galium concinnum
MADDER FAMILY (Rubiaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - June, July
- Uncommon in uplands south of Gifford Road at FF
- Pure white 4 petaled flowers
- Leaves mostly in whorls of 6 - smaller than our other bedstraws
- Smooth fruits - no hairs or bristles
This is a smaller and more delicate plant when compared to the Sweet-scented and Catchweed Bedstraws. It grows to about 18 inches tall. Its rather weak, branching stems often lean on adjacent vegetation (B). Leaves are arranged in whorls of six (A,C). The tiny white flowers have four pure white petals (D,E). The fruit is a tiny, 1/16th inch smooth ball (F). This bedstraw begins to flower in late June, along with the Sweet-scented Bedstraw (Galium triflorum).
This bedstraw has been found only at Fontenelle Forest in the upland woods south of Gifford Road where it is uncommon. It has not been found at Neale Woods to date.
To date 5 species of Bedstraw have been found at our nature centers. Only Shining Bedstraw has a combination of white flowers, leaves in whorls of 6 and smooth, hairless fruits. Fragrant Bedstraw (Galium triflorum) also has 6 leaves per whorl, but they are broader and larger (see photo G), its flowers greenish-white and fruits are covered with hooked hairs. Shining Bedstraw does have tiny white flowers similar to the abundant Catchweed Bedstraw (Galium aparine) but it has leaves that occur mainly in whorls of 8 rather than 6 and its is fruit covered with hooked hairs.Cross Cleavers (Galium circaezens) and rare Bluntleaf Bedstraw (Galium obtusum) have only 4 leaves per whorl.
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.