Seasonal Wild Flowers

Slender Bedstraw

Galium pumilum

Rubiaceae

June to July

It is scattered in the South and Southeast of the country.

For a map see the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland

It grows on chalk and limestone grassland and limestone

spoil-heaps.

Slender Bedstraw is a native, perennial herb growing up to

40cm.

Flowers are up to 4mm with 4 creamy white petals.

There are 4 stamens with white filaments and yellow

anthers.

The single style is branched with 2 capitate stigmas.

The fruits are covered in tubercles (not shown).

The leaves are lanceolate, sessile and in whorls of 5 to 9.

They have a terminal bristle and backward facing prickles.

There are both flowering and non-flowering stems.

Slender Bedstraw, Cheddar, Somerset

Opening flowerhead with leaf whorls

Open flowerhead

Closeup of flowers - 4 stamens,

4 cream petals

Close-up of style with 2 stigmas

Whorls of leaves with terminal bristles

Slender Bedstraw on spoil heap