Scientific Family
Rubiaceae
Synonyms
Galium brachiatum, G. pennsylvanicum, G. triflorum var. asprelliforme, G. triflorum var. viridiflorum
Other common names
sweet-scented bedstraw
sweet bedstraw
cudweed
three-flower bedstraw
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Galium aparine, G. asprellum
Height
To about 2-1/2 feet
Riparian
Yes
Perennial with upright to trailing stems which are weak often leaning on other plants for support; rounded leaves are whorled in groups of 6; tiny star-like greenish-white flowers often grow in clusters of 3 at the stem tips or between the leaf and stem.
Rhizomatous; stems weak, slightly rough to the touch, simple or branching near ends; leaves rounded, in whorls of 6, underside midrib is hairy; flowers greenish-white, stemmed, not subtended by bracts, generally in groups of 3; fruit bristly, not fleshy.
Habitat
Moist shady places like woods, under dense stands of trees or tall shrubs (thickets) and shaded forest floors. Also found on the edges of wetlands, swamps, rocky slopes and talus (buildup of broken rock on a steep mountainside or at the base of a cliff).
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
8500
Flower Characteristics
The flowers within each cluster of 3 (rarely 1 or 2) have very long branching stalks. Each flower is about 1/8 inch across and has 4 greenish-white petals that are egg-shaped tapering to a sharply pointed tip and 4 greenish-white stamens.
Flower color
Greenish-white
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are widest above the middle tapering abruptly to a thin sharp tip. They grow mostly in whorls of 6 and have a vanilla odor when crushed especially when dry. There are stiff hairs on the leaf margins and on the center vein on the leaf underside.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Fruit is a pair of dry round nutlets which separate when ripe, each containing 1 seed. Fruit is about 1/16 inch wide and is densely covered with stiff white or brownish hooked hairs (bristles) which are about as long as the fruit itself.
Fruit type
Nutlet
Fruit color
White or brownish
The fruit doesn't split open to release the seeds when ripe. The hooked hairs on the fruit often catch onto animals or people enabling the plant to disperse the seeds.