Galium

Taxobox

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = Flowers of "Galium aparine"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
subclassis = Asteridae
unranked_ordo = Euasterids I
ordo = Gentianales
familia = Rubiaceae
tribus = Rubieae
genus = "Galium"
genus_authority = L.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = About 400; see text

"Galium" is a large genus of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Rubiaceae, with about 400 species occurring in the temperate zones of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Most species are known as bedstraw.

The Field Madder ("Sherardia arvensis") is a close relative and may be confused with a tiny bedstraw. "Asperula" is also a closely related genus; some species of "Galium" (such as woodruff) are occasionally placed therein.

Bedstraws are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species. See list of Lepidoptera that feed on Galium.

Uses

Galium, or Ladies' straw, was used as a red dye during Anglo-Saxon times in England. (see Anglo-Saxon Crafts by Kevin Leahy, p75-76)

elected species

* "Galium aetnicum"
* "Galium album" - Upright Bedstraw, Upright Hedge Bedstraw, White Bedstraw
* "Galium andrewsii"
* "Galium angulosum"
* "Galium angustifolium" - Narrowleaf Bedstraw
* "Galium aparine" - Goosegrass, Cleavers, Clivers, Stickywilly, Stickyweed, Catchweed, Coachweed, Common Bedstraw
* "Galium arenarium" - Sand Bedstraw
* "Galium arkansanum"
* "Galium asprellum" - Rough Bedstraw
* "Galium australe"
* "Galium azuayicum"
* "Galium baldense"
* "Galium bifolium" - Low Mountain Bedstraw
* "Galium bolanderi" - Bolander's Bedstraw
* "Galium boreale" - Northern Bedstraw
* "Galium brevipes" - Limestone Swamp Bedstraw
* "Galium buxifolium" - Box Bedstraw
* "Galium californicum" - California Bedstraw
* "Galium clementis" - Santa Lucia Bedstraw
* "Galium ciliare"
* "Galium circaezans" - Licorice Bedstraw
* "Galium concinnum" - Shining Bedstraw
* "Galium constrictum"
* "Galium corrudaefolium"
* "Galium debile"
* "Galium divaricatum"
* "Galium ecuadoricum"
* "Galium elongatum" - Great Marsh Bedstraw
* "Galium firmum"
* "Galium flaccidum"
* "Galium fleurotii" - Cheddar Bedstraw
* "Galium fosbergii"
* "Galium gaudichaudii"
* "Galium glaucum" - Glaucous Bedstraw
* "Galium grande" - San Gabriel Bedstraw
* "Galium grayanum" - Gray's Bedstraw
* "Galium hypocarpium"
* "Galium kamtschaticum" - Boreal Bedstraw
* "Galium labradoricum" - Bog Bedstraw
* "Galium lanceolatum" - Torrey's wild licorice
* "Galium longifolium"
* "Galium lucidum"
* "Galium matthewsii" - Bushy Bedstraw
* "Galium mexicanum" - Mexican Bedstraw
* "Galium migrans"
* "Galium multiflorum" - Shrubby Bedstraw
* "Galium murale"
* "Galium nigroramosum"
* "Galium normanii"
* "Galium obliquum"
* "Galium obtusum" - Blunt-leaf Bedstraw
* "Galium odoratum" - Woodruff, Sweet Woodruff, Wild Baby's Breath
* "Galium oelandicum"
* "Galium olympicum"
* "Galium palustre" - Common Marsh Bedstraw
* "Galium parisiense" - Wall Bedstraw
* "Galium pilosum" - Hairy Bedstraw
* "Galium porrigens" - Graceful Bedstraw
* "Galium pumilum" - Slender Bedstraw
* "Galium ruwenzoriense" (Cortesi) Chiov.
* "Galium rotundifolium"
* "Galium rubioides"
* "Galium rubrum"
* "Galium saxatile" - Heath Bedstraw
* "Galium schultesii"
* "Galium spurium" - False Cleavers
* "Galium sterneri" - Limestone Bedstraw
* "Galium suecicum" - Swedish Bedstraw
* "Galium sylvaticum" - Wood Bedstraw
* "Galium tinctorium" - Stiff Marsh Bedstraw
* "Galium tricornutum" - Corn Cleavers
* "Galium trifidum" - Small Bedstraw
* "Galium triflorum" - Sweet-scented Bedstraw, Conifer Bedstraw
* "Galium truniacum"
* "Galium uliginosum" - Fen Bedstraw
* "Galium valdepilosum"
* "Galium verum" - Lady's Bedstraw

External links

*cite web
url = http://beta.uniprot.org/taxonomy/25168
title = Genus Galium
accessdate = 2008-05-07
author = UniProt
authorlink = UniProt
format = HTML