Rough Bedstraw

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©Galium gaudichaudii Richard Hartland CC-BY

Galium gaudichaudii

Ascending or prostrate scrambly plant to 40 cm covered in tiny downward-facing hairs. Small narrow leaves arranged in a whorl of four around the stem. Tiny inconspicuous cream flowers, purplish in bud on very short stalks. Small globular seedheads in pairs, touching each other.

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Distinctive Features

Rhizomes are absent or very poorly developed. Leaves to 8 mm long that curve on drying.
Biology

Perennial. Grows in a wide variety of environments, often in disturbed places.
Native Status
Introduced
Flowering Time

Sep-Mar
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Gentianales
Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Geococcus
Species
pusillus

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

From the Latin gal = milk. LadyÕs Bedstraw G. verum, a related species, was used to curdle milk in Europe, and the plant itself was used to stuff mattresses.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Introduced