Flower ID: IMG_9196.JPG-08-29-2023 Flower name (scientific): Galium tinctorium Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) GAL-ee-um tink-TOR-ee-um (or tink-TO-ri-um or tink-TORE-ee-um) Flower name (common): Southern Three-lobed 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 meaning used for dyeing, which refers to the roots being used as a source of a red dye. 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. For this species the flowers are mostly three-petaled. For reference, most of the Galium species have four-petaled flowers. Southern helps to distinguish this species from G. trifidum that is sometimes called northern three-lobed bedstraw, which also commonly has three-petaled-flowers. The tags southern and northern are not particulaly useful for determining the geographic range of either of these two Galium species. Flower description: Size: 0.08 to 0.12 inches (2 to 3 mm) Petal count: 3-lobed, less commonly 4-lobed Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme (1 to 3 flowers) Plant description: Size: 9 to 24 inches (23 to 61 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is whorl, type is simple Size: Leaves up to about 2 to 2.5 cm long and up to 6 mm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, narrowly elliptic or narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate (IL), narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblanceolate or linear (MP) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to September Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Marshes, bogs, swamps, pond margins, lake margins, streambanks, wet, semi shade to sun. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Galium tinctorium and Galium trifidum (Three-petal Bedstraw) both have tiny flowers with 3 petals. The best way to differentiate them is to note that G. trifidum has leaves in whorls of 4, whereas G. tinctorium has leaves in whorls of 4, and commonly in whorls of 5 or 6. The other Galium species have flowers with 4 petals. Ethnobotany: The Ojibwe prepared a tea from the whole plant and used it for respiratory issues (Smith, p. 386, 1932). The Micmac used the roots to prepare a red dye (Moerman, p. 242, 1998). Latitude: 44.800342 Longitude: -91.507970 Altitude: 252.60 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV) In Canada: (LB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na