Heath bedstraw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heath bedstraw |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Galium
|
| Species: |
saxatile
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Galium hercynicum Weigel |
|
The heath bedstraw (also known as Galium saxatile) is a common wild plant. It belongs to a group of plants called Galium, which also includes the sticky plant you might know as cleavers.
What is Heath Bedstraw?
Heath bedstraw is a type of plant that grows close to the ground, forming a thick mat. It's a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. You can find it in many places like grasslands, open moors, heaths (areas with low-growing shrubs), and even in woods.
This plant usually grows to about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) tall. In the United Kingdom, its small white flowers bloom from May to August. Its stems are smooth (no hairs) and have four sides. The leaves are small, about 8–25 millimetres (0.31–0.98 in) long, and grow in groups of 6 to 8 around the stem. They are shaped like a spear or a spoon.
Butterflies love the heath bedstraw! The mountain ringlet butterfly, for example, visits this plant to drink its sweet nectar.
Where Does It Grow?
Heath bedstraw is found all over northern and central Europe. It grows in many countries, from Portugal and Ireland in the west, all the way to Scandinavia, France, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Russia in the east.
Sometimes, plants can spread to new places and start growing there naturally. This is called becoming "naturalized." Heath bedstraw has also become naturalized in a few other parts of the world, like Quebec in Canada, California in the United States, and the Falkland Islands.
Images for kids
-
Heath bedstraw growing in a field
-
Close-up of heath bedstraw flowers
-
Detailed view of the plant's leaves and stems
See also
- In Spanish: Galio de roca para niños
