Flower ID: IMG_1839.JPG-06-15-2019 Flower name (scientific): Galium boreale Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) GAL-ee-um bor-ee-AY-lee (or bor-ee-AL-ay or bor-e-A-le) Flower name (common): Northern Bedstraw Family name (common): Madder Family name (scientific): Rubiaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek word gala for milk. Dioscorides' name, referencing the use of yellow bedstraw Galiumverum to curdle milk for cheese making. Specific epithet: Latin for of the north, northern. Common name origin: Bedstraw refers to the straw, when covered by a sheet, formed the bedding in an ordinary bed. The term bedstraw applies to a number of Galium species, and references the use of the legendary name of Our Lady's Bedstraw to designate Galium verum. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.3 inches (3 to 8 mm) Petal count: 4 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Panicle Plant description: Size: 6 to 40 inches (15 to 102 cm) Stem hairy: glabrous to sparsely strigose. Other: Leaf description: attachment is whorl, type is simple Size: Leaves up to about 5 cm long and 6 mm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: upper surface glabrous, lower surface and margins sparsely pubescent. Other: Shape: leaf, linear to lance-like (FWI) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to July Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, prairies, forests, part shade or sun, dry to wet. Fruit: Biglobose, surface hairy. Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Several Galium species in the region are similar. To help ID, we can put the Galium species in the following groups: 1.G. verum 4 yellow petals; 2.G. circaezans 4 pale yellowish-green petals; 3.G. tinctorium and G. trifidum 3 white petals. 4. The following have 4 white petals and leaves in whorls: G. aparine leaves in whorls of 6 to 8; G. asprellum leaves commonly in whorls of 6 (also 4 or 5); G. boreale leaves in whorls of 4; G. concinnum leaves commonly in whorls of 6 (also 4); G. labradoricum leaves in whorls of 4; G. lanceolatum (petals turn purple with age) leaves in whorls of 4; G. mollugo leaves in whorls of 6 or 8; G. obtusum leaves commonly in whorls of 4 or 5 (also 6); G. palustre leaves in whorls to 2 to 6; G. triflorum leaves in whorls of 6. Other characteristics such as leaf shape, flower size, etc., can separate members of the groups. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes in Wisconsin. The Choctax used the plant as a contraceptive and employed it as a diuretic. The Cree also used the plant as a diuretic (Moerman, p. 242, 1998). Latitude: 44.795313 Longitude: -91.501873 Altitude: 288.00 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 8 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 55 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC