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.