Northern Bedstraw

(Galium boreale)

 

   

 

Color Photograph: Copyright Nearctica.com, Inc.

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale L.)

Identification: Flowers small, white, with 4 petals. Flowers abundant, arranged in tight, compound clusters near the end of the plant. Fruit with hooked spines. Stem erect, square, without hooked spines. Leaves in whorls of 4, narrow, with 3 nerves. Plant 12 to 30 inches in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of North America except for the southeastern United States. Also native to Europe and northern Asia.

Habitat: Northern Bedstraw is found in rocky soil and along the shores of lakes and streams.

Flowering period: May to August.

Similar Species: Another species with leaves in whorls of 4, White Wild Licorice, has much wider and larger leaves.

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