Wall bedstraw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wall bedstraw |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Galium
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| Species: |
parisiense
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Galium parisiense, also known as wall bedstraw, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Rubiaceae family. This plant originally comes from the Mediterranean region and Western Europe. However, it has also started growing naturally in North America and other parts of Europe.
What Does Wall Bedstraw Look Like?
Wall bedstraw is an annual herb. This means it grows from a seed, flowers, produces seeds, and then dies all within one year. It has stems that are a bit hairy, very thin, and branch out a lot. These stems grow straight up and are usually about 15 to 25 centimeters (about 6 to 10 inches) tall.
The stems have rings of leaves called whorls. Each whorl usually has six narrow, long leaves, but sometimes it can have four to seven. These leaves are only a few millimeters long and often point downwards towards the stem.
At the top of each stem, you'll find an open inflorescence. This is a group of many tiny flowers clustered together. The flowers are usually greenish-white, but they can sometimes have a purplish tint. After the flowers, the plant produces a small fruit called a nutlet. This nutlet is covered in thin, hooked bristles. Wall bedstraw typically flowers during the summer, from June to August.
Where Does Wall Bedstraw Grow?
Wall bedstraw is originally from the Mediterranean Basin. This area includes southern Europe and northern Africa, as well as Turkey, Iran, and islands in the eastern North Atlantic. These islands include Great Britain, Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Cape Verde.
This plant has also spread and now grows naturally in some parts of North America. You can find it mostly along the Pacific coast of the United States and Canada. It also appears in a few places in the southeastern US, from Texas to Maryland.
In its native areas, Galium parisiense often grows on hillsides and along stream-banks. When it grows in new places, it can show up in cities. For example, it has been found growing among cobblestones in Ghent, Belgium, and in railway yards in Antwerp. This plant often likes to grow in rocky places. It's known as a "wall specialist" because it can easily grow in old stone walls, especially in areas where people have changed the environment a lot.
See also
In Spanish: Galium parisiense para niños
