SWEET-SCENTED BEDSTRAW
Galium triflorum
MADDER FAMILY (Rubiaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - Mid-June, July, August
- Uncommon - floodplain and moist woodlands at FF and NW
- 4 tiny greenish-white petals and leaves in whorls of 6
- Fruits covered with hooked hairs
- See comments for comparison with similar bedstraw species
The 1-3 foot long stems of this native perennial are rarely upright; rather they tend to sprawl over the ground or adjacent vegetation, often forming tangles. Stems have whorls of six elliptical leaves, which are widest at or below the middle and come to a fine point at the tip (B,C,F). The tiny flowers (1/6 inch) are greenish-white with four petals which have elongated tips (D). The tiny fruit has hooked hairs which readily cling to animal fur or human clothing- similar to Velcro (E).
This bedstraw is uncommon on the floodplain and in moister spots in upland woods at Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods. Flowering occurs from mid-June to August.
This species is similar to the abundant Catchweed Bedstraw (Galium aparine) which has narrower leaves that occur mainly in whorls of 8 rather than 6. The uncommon Cross Cleavers (Galium circaezens) and rare Bluntleaf Bedstraw (Galium obtusum) have only 4 leaves per whorl and their fruits are smooth and hairless. A 5th species which is quite rare, Shining Bedstraw (Galium concinnum), does have leaves in whorls of 6 but its leaves are narrower and the fruits are smooth and hairless as well.
Flowers often occur in groups of three; hence the genus name triflorum. The vanilla scented odor of the dried plant appears responsible for the common name, Sweet-scented Bedstraw.
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