Bedstraws
ExplorePlants
Bedstraws
galium
Bedstraws are fun plants that can grow in fields and forests! Kids love to pick them and use them for crafts or to make tea.
Habitat: They live in fields, meadows, and forests.
Appearance
The Bedstraws has delicate, often tiny, white or yellow flowers with usually four petals arranged in clusters. Its leaves grow in distinctive whorls (circles) around the stem, which is often square-shaped. Some species have tiny hooks, giving them a clinging texture.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGentianalesFamilyRubiaceaeGenusGalium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Bedstraws are so widespread, you can find them on almost every continent!
Many bedstraws have stems that are square, not round like most plants!
Some ancient peoples stuffed mattresses with bedstraws for their sweet scent.
Tiny bedstraw seeds can be carried far distances by wind or even animals.
Special abilities
Ability
Velcro Grip
Bedstraws can stick to clothes and fur using tiny hooks on their stems and fruits, helping their seeds travel far.
Ability
Whorled Wonder
Bedstraws has leaves arranged in distinct circles around its stem, an unusual pattern that helps maximize sunlight capture.
Ability
Cheese Curdler
Some Bedstraws species contain enzymes that can curdle milk, a traditional method for making cheese in ancient times.
Ability
Living Dye Pot
Certain Bedstraws roots can produce a vibrant red dye, historically used to color fabrics like wool and cloth.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 10-100 cm
- Spread
- 20-200 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.1-0.3 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to late summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- Mild
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Visits small flowers for nectar.
eaten by
Red Deer
Cervus elaphus
Deer browse on their leaves.
eaten by
Garden Snail
Helix aspersa
Snails graze on leaves.
eaten by
Domestic Sheep
Ovis aries
Sheep commonly graze on bedstraws.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
CleaversGoosegrassLady's BedstrawSticky-Willy
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Bedstraws?
10-100 cm
How wide does Bedstraws spread?
20-200 cm
How big are the flowers on Bedstraws?
0.1-0.3 cm
When does Bedstraws bloom?
Late spring to late summer
Is Bedstraws edible?
Yes
Is Bedstraws toxic?
Mild
What is Bedstraws's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Bedstraws pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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