Galium triflorum

Fragrant Bedstraw

Flora, fauna, earth, and sky...
The natural history of the northwoods

Name:

• Galium, from the Greek, gala (gala), "milk," which is curdled by some of the bedstraws.
• triflorum, from the Latin "three flowers", a reference to the flowers in clusters of three
• Common name from the sweet-smelling straw of the various galiums formerly was used in mattresses
• Other common names include Sweet Scented Bedstraw, Cudweed, Myskmåra (Swe), Myskemaure (Nor), Treblomstret Snerre (Dan), Lehtomatara (Fin)

Taxonomy:

• Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
  • Division Magnoliophyta, the Angiosperms (flowering plants)
    • Class Magnoliopsida, the Dicotyledons 
    • Subclass Asteridae
      • Order Rubiales
        • Family Rubiaceae, the Madders , including coffee, quinine, and dozens of ornamental plants
          • Genus Galium, the Bedstraws
• Taxonomic Serial Number: 34933
• Also known as Galium brachiatum, Galium pennsylvanicum

Description:

• A ¼, ½, ¾, º, é
• An erect perennial forb, blooms Jun.-Aug.; plant 3"-32"
• Leaves
• Stem
• Roots
• Flowers
• Sepals
• Petals
• Stamens
• Pistils
• Ovary superior (within blossom) inferior (below flower)
• Fruit
• Seed

Identification:

• Identifiable as
• Distinguished from
• Field Marks

Distribution:

• Alaska to Newfoundland,

Habitat:

• Boreal Forest; Cliff; Northern Lowland Forest; Northern Upland Forest; Savanna; Sedge Meadow; Shrub Carr; Southern Lowland Forest; Southern Upland Forest;

Fire:

Associates:

• Trees:
• Shrubs:
• Herbs:
• Ground Covers:
• Mammals:
• Birds:

History:

Uses:

Reproduction:

• Sexually by seed
• Flowers
• Assexually by

Propagation:

• By rhizome division,

Cultivation:

• Hardy to USDA Zone 3 (average minimum annual temperature -40ºF)
• Cultural Requirements
• Light:
• Soil:
• Water:
• Spacing:
• Fertilization:
• Size 12"-18"W x 12"-18"H
• Growth rate
• Good for
• Cultivars include
• variety 'Alba', with
• Cultivars and species available by mail order from specialty suppliers or at local nurseries

Links:

• Den Virtuella Floren, Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Stockholm

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