Galium verum L. Yellow Bedstraw

Galium verum L. - Yellow Bedstraw

Scientific Description:

Caespitose perennial, (20−)50−120 cm. Stems generally numerous, erect to ascending, simple to sparingly branched, ± terete with 4 raised lines, ± puberulent. Leaves in whorls of (6−)8−12, (10−)15−30(−40) × 0.5−1(−2) mm, oblanceolate-linear to subfiliform, shortly acuminate, margins strongly revolute and scabrid, sparingly scabrid to hairy above, densely puberulent to glabrescent below, often nigrescent on drying. Inflorescence oblong to ovoid, dense, ± leafy, with short, somewhat spreading branches, densely puberulent to glabrous. Pedicels c. 1−2 mm, slender, divaricate in fruit. Bracts 1−2 mm, lanceolate. Corolla golden-yellow, rotate, 2−3.5 mm diam, with ovate-lanceolate, acute to shortly apiculate lobes. Mericarps 1−1.5 mm, finely granulate, glabrous, sometimes hairy.

subsp. verum

Stems, inflorescence and lower surface of leaves ± densely puberulent.

Flowering time: (May−)June−August.

Habitat: Rocky slopes, stony pastures, fallow fields, dried-up marshes and river beds, (30−)100−2400 m.

Reference:

Ehrendorfer F & Schönbeck-Temesy E (1982). Galium verum L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 786.

Public Description:

Galium verum, commonly known as “yellow bedstraw” or “lady’s bedstraw”, is widespread across most of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia from Palestine and Türkiye to Japan. It is naturalized in Tasmania, New Zealand, Canada, and the northern half of the United States. It is a perennial herb with golden-yellow flowers, grows up to 120 cm in length. It blooms between June and August and is found in rocky slopes, stony pastures, fallow fields, dried-up marshes and river beds. In the past, the dried plants were used to stuff mattresses, as the coumarin scent of the plants acts as a flea killer. The flowers were also used to coagulate milk in cheese manufacture in the UK. The plant is also used to make red madder-like and yellow dyes.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galium_verum/,Accessed date: 30.06.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/search/?q=galium+verum /,Accessed date: 30.06.2016

Karabacak E (2012) Galium L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 821–831.