Bedstraw (Galium aparine)
Bedstraw is a weak-stemmed annual forb that can be found in shady, damp ground or thickets around the globe. The plant has more than 300 species and can sometimes be perennial and live for more than 2 years.
- Has small, hooked hairs that catch easily on fingers and clothing
- Is also known by the name “cleavers” because it sticks or cleaves to objects
- Is a very slender forb, typically with square stems, whorled leaves and very small white, yellow or green flowers
- Has long stems that can reach a length of more than 40 inches
- Can be very fragrant and was once used to stuff mattresses, thus the name “bedstraw”
- Was written about in early Christian writings as being very abundant in Bethlehem and was used as “straw” to bed animals down in stables. It supposedly formed a bed for the infant Jesus in the manger.
It was also known as a coffee substitute. In Ireland and North America, the dried and roasted seeds were used as a substitute for coffee beans.
Bedstraw is rarely an issue on grazing lands, but it can be controlled by herbicide if needed.
Editor’s note: Kent Ferguson, retired rangeland management specialist from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is providing us with plant identification photo stories to help ranchers identify those forbs, forages and species growing in the pastures. Additional photos provided by USDA NRCS.
Bedstraw is excerpted from the November 2016 issue of The Cattleman magazine.