VC VR N I Galium Very Common Very Rare Native Introduced Lady’s Bedstraw (Galium verum) N
Flowers small, yellow Plant does not have and spirally whorled recurved prickles. around the stem.
Cleavers (Galium aparine) N VC
Flowers small, white Plant with recurved and in clusters of 3-10. prickles which help with climbing and support. Leaves lanceolate and in The prickles on Galiums whorls of 6-8 around give them the ability to the stem. stick/cling onto objects.
Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale) N
Flowers small, white Fruits of the plant with and in multiple clusters. recurved prickles.
Leaves lanceolate with 3 veins and rough edges in whorls of 4-8 around the stem.
Woodruff (Galium odoratum) N
Flowers small, white Fruits of the plant with and in loose clusters. recurved prickles.
Plant is scented. Leaves oblong- Associated with lanceolate in whorls of 8 woodland and damp around the stem. shaded areas.
Marsh Bedstraw (Galium palustre) N VC
Flowers small, white Plant with recurved and in loose clusters. prickles.
Associated with wet ground, marshes, wet Leaves oblong- grasslands and even lanceolate in whorls of ditches. 4-6. Heath Bedstraw (Galium saxatile) N VC Leaves with forward Flowers small, white facing prickles. and in clusters.
Leaves oblong- Mat-forming species lanceolate in whorls of Associated with dry 6-8. grasslands
Limestone Bedstraw (Galium sterneri) N VR
Flowers small, creamy Leaves have recurved white in clusters. prickles on the margins.
Leaves linear in whorls Associated with of 6-8. limestone habitat.
Hedge Bedstraw (Galium mollugo) I VR
Flowers small, white and Small hairs on leaf in long loose clusters. margin.
Leaves lanceolate in Associated with whorls of 5-8. hedgerow habitat.
Fen Bedstraw (Galium uliginosum)
Similar in appearance to Galium palustre but much daintier. Flowers are small, white and in loose clusters, leaves are lanceolate in whorls of 6-8. Leaf with recurved prickles along the margin and tips ending in rough point.
Photos by Zoe Devlin, Paul Green and Oisín Duffy