# Northern Bedstraw (*Galium boreale*) Northern Bedstraw is a small plant with tiny, star-like flowers. It grows in cool places like forests and fields, and its leaves are whorled around the stem, making it look very special! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Northern Bedstraw](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Galium_boreale.jpeg&width=800) Photo: Kristian Peters -- Fabelfroh 06:36, 2 July 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galium_boreale.jpeg) ## Appearance The Northern Bedstraw has upright, square stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves arranged in whorls of four. It produces numerous tiny, white, four-petaled flowers clustered at the top of the stems, creating a delicate, airy appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Gentianales - **Family:** Rubiaceae - **Genus:** Galium ## Interesting facts - Its family name, 'Bedstraw', comes from people once stuffing mattresses with soft, dried relatives of this plant! - Its tiny seeds have hooks, making them expert hitchhikers on animal fur or clothing! - The genus name 'Galium' comes from Greek for milk, as some relatives were used to curdle milk! - The roots of this plant were once used by some cultures to make a natural red dye! ## Special abilities - **Hitchhiker Seeds:** Northern Bedstraw has tiny hooks on its seeds that cling to animals, helping it spread far and wide. - **Underground Explorer:** This plant spreads using hidden underground roots (rhizomes) to form dense patches and find new resources. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Bedstraw Hawk-moth (*Hyles gallii*) — Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of this plant. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Deer browse on its stems and leaves. - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — Helps spread pollen while foraging for nectar. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Dye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you're with an adult who knows they're safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Bedstraw? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Northern Bedstraw? 30-90 cm ### How wide does Northern Bedstraw spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on Northern Bedstraw? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does Northern Bedstraw bloom? Summer ### Is Northern Bedstraw edible? Yes ### Is Northern Bedstraw toxic? None ### What is Northern Bedstraw's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Illinois Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-street-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Bremner Historic Mining District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bremner-historic-mining-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Canoe Landing Prairie State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canoe-landing-prairie-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Haight Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/haight-village-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Kishenehn Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kishenehn-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Waubay National Wildlife Refuge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/waubay-national-wildlife-refuge) — South Dakota, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Northern Bedstraw](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-bedstraw) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Northern Bedstraw: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-bedstraw)