Hedge bedstraw (Galium mollugo, Sp. Pl.: 107 (1753))

Family: Rubiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 107 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Galium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Siberia, Libya

Description

Hedge bedstraw, scientifically known as Galium mollugo, is a perennial herb that belongs to the Rubiaceae family. This species thrives across a wide geographical range, making its home in diverse regions from Europe to Siberia, and even extending down to Libya.

Originating in 1753, Galium mollugo was cataloged by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus, who documented it in his seminal work “Species Plantarum”. The plant has since been recognized for its adaptability to various climates and environments.

The plant is characterized by its slender, sprawling stems, and whorls of narrow, bright green leaves. Its small, star-shaped white flowers bloom in clusters, often presenting a delicate and understated beauty that can be overlooked in its natural habitats. Hedge bedstraw usually flourishes in meadows, along roadside verges, and in hedgerows, where it can form dense mats that cover the ground.

Aside from its aesthetic appeal, Hedge bedstraw has been observed to possess several ecological benefits. It provides a habitat and food source for a variety of insects, including pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Additionally, the plant has a history of use in traditional practices and herbal medicine, although modern applications are less common.

This species’ resilience and widespread adaptability highlight its significance within its native range and beyond. Whether viewed for its subtle beauty or ecological importance, Hedge bedstraw remains a notable component of the natural flora across its extensive habitats.

Common Names

Eng: false baby’s breath, false baby’s-breath, hedge bedstraw, hedge-bedstraw, white bedstraw, wild madder, smooth bedstraw, great hedge bedstraw
Deu: gemeines labkraut, kleinblütiges wiesen-labkraut, wiesen-labkraut
Dan: hvid snerre
Fra: caille-lait blanc, gaillet mollugine
Nld: glad walstro
Nno: stormaure, sørleg stormaure, vegstormaure
Nob: stormaure, sørlig stormaure, veistormaure
Swe: stormåra
Cym: brigwydd unionsyth, briwydd wen, briwydd y clawdd, briwydden y clawdd, gwendon ymlusgol ar gloddiau
En: Hedge bedstraw, White bedstraw, False baby’s-breath, Wild madder, False baby’s breath, Hedge-bedstraw, Smooth bedstraw, Great hedge bedstraw, Great Lady’s Bedstraw
Ar: جويسئة بيضاء
Be: Маруна мяккая
Bg: Меко еньовче
Ca: Cua de rabosa, Espunyidella blanca, Espunyidera blanca, Espunyidera, Herba mosquera
Cs: Svízel povázka
Da: Hvid Snerre
Nl: Glad walstro
Et: Pehme madar
Fi: Saksanmatara, Etelänpaimenmatara
Fr: Caille-lait blanc, Gaillet mollugine, Caille-lait, Mollugine, Gaillet commun
De: Gemeines Labkraut, Grasstern, Klein-Wiesen-Labkraut, Kleinblütiges Wiesen-Labkraut, Weisses Waldstroh, Weißes Waldstroh, Wiesen-Labkraut, Wiesenlabkraut, Echtes Wiesenlabkraut, Wiesen Labkraut
Ga: Rú fáil
It: Caglio tirolese
Lt: Paprastasis lipikas
Nb: Stormaure, Sørlig stormaure, Veistormaure
Nn: Stormaure, Sørleg stormaure, Vegstormaure
Oc: Erbo dóu mèu
Pl: Przytulia pospolita, Przytulia zwyczajna
Pt-br: Gálio-comum, Gálio-do-campo
Ru: Подмаренник мягкий
Gd: Màdar Fàil
Sk: Lipkavec mäkký
Es: Navadna lakota, Cerrillo, Galio blanco, Galio, Presera castellana, Rubia lisa, Rubia mansa, Rubia silvestre, Cuaja-leche blanca
Sv: Buskmåra, Stormåra
Uk: Підмаренник Бессерів, Підмаринник Бессерів
Cy: Briwydd y clawdd, Brigwydd Unionsyth, Briwydd Wen, Briwydden y Clawdd, Gwendon Ymlusgol ar Gloddiau

Synonyms

• Rubia mollugo ((L.) Baill.)
• Galium vulgare (Gray)
• Galium mollugo var. nemorale (Heintze)
• Galium mollugo f. congesta (Heintze)
• Galium flaccidum (Salisb.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Krym (native)
• Libya (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Crozet Is. (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kuril Is. (introduced)
• Labrador (introduced)
• Magadan (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Bark

Taken Jun 27, 2021 by Doreen I. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 23, 2020 by ‘Mouka’ (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2021 by Mariëlla vg (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 17, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 4, 2020 by greenamazone (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken May 21, 2022 by Alice FAURE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 11, 2020 by Yining Ye (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2019 by juan llanos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2019 by juan llanos (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Oct 17, 2020 by sandramancini66 sandramancini66 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 31, 2019 by Michael Bach (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 1, 2021 by patata titona (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2019 by Nicolas Fleurance (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2017 by Mason Hoffman (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jun 14, 2019 by juan llanos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2020 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2019 by juan llanos (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2017 by Denise de Lassat (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 14, 2017 by Denise de Lassat (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 12, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by Astrobotanico Gianpaolo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 10, 2019 by Nils Kieffer (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 5, 2020 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 5, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Quentin LEBASTARD (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 30, 2021 by Bénard Tremblay Milo (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2020 by Lo JP (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 31, 2020 by michel cosme (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:750253-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/9039392)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Galium mollugo L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 6