bedstraw

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lady's bedstraw
• yellow bedstraw
• yellow spring bedstraw

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Asterophyllum galium
• Rubia vera

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianaales. Finally, it is a member of the Rubiaceae family and falls under the genus Galium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-reaching presence throughout various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing across the landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution also extends to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit the unique terrain of Iceland. Together, these locations highlight its ability to thrive in northern climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Galium verum is characterized by its wide adaptability across diverse topographical gradients and substrate compositions. It exhibits a broad elevational range, occurring from sea level up to a maximum altitude of 2600 m AMSL. This species thrives in a variety of specific environments, frequently colonizing forest edges, open meadows, and areas with limestone substrates, while also demonstrating a capacity to grow in sandy soils.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, limestone, meadows, sand

Life history

The life history of Galium verum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a hemicryptophyte, it survives unfavorable seasons by protecting its perenn Perennating buds at the soil surface, typically under a layer of leaf litter or soil. This life form allows it to maintain a stable existence across multiple growing seasons. Furthermore, the plant exhibits evergreen characteristics, maintaining its vegetative structures throughout various stages of its life cycle to facilitate continuous biological processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Galium verum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent organism, neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, typically occupying terrestrial habitats. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 1.25 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.383 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.25 m

Plant height mean:

0.383 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Galium verum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous species. The plant is strictly non-carnivorous, relying entirely on autotrophic nutrient acquisition through its root system and soil interactions. Morphologically, the foliage is highly specialized and diminutive, featuring a mean leaf width of 0.2 cm, which remains consistent across its minimum and maximum recorded measurements. The leaf length reaches a maximum of 1.2 cm, contributing to a relatively small average leaf size of 0.15667 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 207.87 cm²/g, a metric that reflects the efficiency of its leaf tissue in terms of carbon investment relative to its photosynthetic surface area.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

1.2 cm

Leaf size mean:

0.15667 cm²

Leaf width mean:

0.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

207.87 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Galium verum is primarily achieved through sexual means via bisexual flowers, while asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period is concentrated in June, during which the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome. Specifically, pollination is facilitated by insects, with beetles playing a documented role in the process. The plant is capable of self-fertilization, ensuring reproductive success. Following pollination, the plant produces dry fruits containing seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.015347225 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00029 g to a maximum of 0.00112 g. These seeds vary in volume, with a mean of 0.81 mm³, a minimum of 0.52 mm³, and a maximum of 1.1 mm³. Dispersal is characterized by an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are distributed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

beetle

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00112 g

Seed mass mean:

0.015347225 g

Seed mass min:

0.00029 g

Seed volume max:

1.1 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.81 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.52 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Galium verum has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, RUTIN, (+)-catechin, (-)-Epicatechin.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. PloS one

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. PloS one

RUTIN

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. PloS one

(+)-catechin

1. Journal of chromatographic science

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Anthraquinones

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Coumaric Acid

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Coumarins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fisetin

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Isoquercitrin

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Activities

Galium verum has 8 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antihyperglycemic.

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Pharmaceutics

Antioxidant

1. PloS one
2. Pharmaceutics
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihyperglycemic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Diuretic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Galium verum has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress, Candida albicans, cancer, infection, inflammation.

Oxidative stress

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecular and cellular biochemistry

Candida albicans

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Infection

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammation

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Neurodegenerative disorders

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Oxidative damage

1. PloS one

Psoriasis

1. Molecular and cellular biochemistry

Preparations

Galium verum has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous and 40% ethanol extracts, Ethanolic (E-99.5%) and hydroalcoholic (H-70%) extracts, ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts, extract.

Aqueous and 40% ethanol extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic (e-99.5%) and hydroalcoholic (h-70%) extracts

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts

1. Pharmaceutics

Extract

1. PloS one