Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Rubiaceae ⟩ Galium verum / lady’s bedstraw

Galium verum L.

lady’s bedstraw (Rubiaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyN
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Like Cruciata laevipes, Galium verum has 4-parted flowers and whorled leaves, although G. verum has linear leaves in whorls of 6–12 (Cruciata has whorls of 4 much broader leaves).

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2012-07-22

 lady’s bedstraw / Galium verum: Like _Cruciata laevipes_, _Galium verum_ has 4-parted flowers and whorled leaves, although _G. verum_ has linear leaves in whorls of 6–12 (_Cruciata_ has whorls of 4 much broader leaves).

A dwarf form with internodes shorter than the leaves, Galium verum var. maritimum, grows in coastal areas.

North Berwick (VC82: East Lothian); 2009-08-19

 lady’s bedstraw / Galium verum: A dwarf form with internodes shorter than the leaves, _Galium verum_ var. _maritimum_, grows in coastal areas.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne