Yellow Bedstraw

(Galium verum)

 

   

 

Color drawing: C. A. M. Lindman (1901-1905), Bilder ur Nordens Flora.

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

 

Yellow Bedstraw (Galium verum L.)

Alien: Native of Europe.

Identification: Flowers yellow, small, with 4 pointed petals. Flowers in large, compact clusters arising on long stems from the axils of the leaf whorls. Fruit smooth. Stem square, usually erect, heavily branched. Leaves mostly in whorls of 8, very thin and spindly. Plant 8 to 30 inches in height.

Distribution: Across Canada and southward to North Carolina and Missouri in the east. Also occurs in the north-central and northwestern United States.

Habitat: Yellow Bedstraw is a weed of disturbed areas including fields, empty lots, and roadsides.

Flowering period: June to August.

Similar Species: The yellow flowers and thin leaves in whorls of 8 will easily identify this species.

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