Galium trifidum : Small Bedtraw

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Rubiaceae (Madder Family)

Genera: Galium (Bedstraw) (Gk. gala = milk; referring to a European species used to curdle milk for cheese making.)

Species: trifidum (Lat. tri- = 3 + findo = split = 3-forked; perhaps referring to the small clusters of 3 flowers)

Synonym(s): Galium tinctorium

English Name(s):

Small Bedtraw,

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Dwarf herbaceous (not woody), plants from slender rhizomes (underground stems)
.
• Stems, 4-angled (square) slender, weak, sprawling, freely branched, usually densely matted, rarely over 10cm long, with tiny down-ward pointing bristles along the angles.

Leaves:

• Sessile (stalkless), in whorles of 4.
• 3-20mm long by 1-3mm wide.
• Oblong to linear in shape.
• Margins with down-ward pointing bristles.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorescence (flower clusters) 1-3 flowered cymes. Terminal or in leaf-axils.
• Pedicils (flower stalks) at least somewhat scabrous (rough).
• Corolla (petals) 3-lobed, 1.5mm wide, white.

Seed:

• Fruit smooth, hairless, about 1mm long.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Galium boreale (Northern Bedstraw) which can be distinguished by its 3-nerved (veined) leaves and its stiff erect manner.

Physiology:

• Fruit of Galium species with their two round halves and bristly hairs, are said to look like a set of testicles.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Deciduous from rhizomes (rootstalk)

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Wet sites in bogs and marshes and along streams and ponds.
• Common but much overlooked among tall sedges in wet woodland bogs.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Plant juice or a strong tea is used for bathing slow-healing burns, open sores, inflamed stretch marks or any festering skin conditions.
• Plants also used in hot packs for relieving aches and pains.
• Plants used to make an infusion taken as a remedy for urinary tract problems.

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• The Ojibwe name for this plant means "male genitalia" reffering to the similarity of the two seeds in apearance to testicles.
• Galium was said to have filled the manger where baby Jesus lay. It was thus believed to be very holy, demons would not touch it.

Industrial:

• Roots were used by native north americans for staining feathers and other ornaments red.

Medicinal:

Food:

• Plants were used to curdle milk and to colour cheese a rich yellow.
• Seeds can be dried and roasted, English country style, to make a coffee substitute.