kids encyclopedia robot

White bedstraw facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
White bedstraw
Galium album1.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Galium
Species:
G. album
Binomial name
Galium album
Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist.
Synonyms
  • Galium mollugo subsp. album (Mill.) Tzvelev
  • Galium album var. praticola (Heinr.Braun) Michalk.
  • Galium erectum Huds.
  • Galium mixtum Stransky
  • Galium woonasquatucketensis E.J.Whalen
  • Galium mollugo subsp. erectum Syme
  • Galium mollugo var. mixtum (Stransky) Stoj. & Stef.
  • Galium mollugo var. nevadense Lange
  • Galium mollugo var. praticola Heinr.Braun
  • Galium sphenophyllum Klokov
  • Galium sylvestre Scop.

Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

Galium album, also known as white bedstraw or hedge bedstraw, is a common plant. It is a type of herbaceous plant, which means it has soft stems instead of woody ones. This plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family.

What Does White Bedstraw Look Like?

The stems of the white bedstraw can grow quite tall. They often reach at least 150 centimeters (about 5 feet) high. These stems usually stand upright. They also have branches that grow upwards.

The stem has a square shape. It has slight edges, almost like small wings. This plant does not have much hair on its leaves or stem. Both the leaves and the stem often look shiny.

The flowers of the white bedstraw are small. They are usually white or sometimes a little yellowish. After the flowers, the plant produces fruit. These fruits are smooth and do not have any hairs.

Where Does White Bedstraw Grow?

White bedstraw is found in many places. It grows naturally across a large part of Europe. You can find it from Great Britain all the way to Morocco in the west. It also grows east into Turkey and Western Siberia.

This plant has also spread to new areas. It now grows in Ireland, Scandinavia, Greenland, and South Australia. White bedstraw likes to grow in grassy areas. You can often see it in pastures or on grassy banks. It especially likes dry soils that contain a lot of chalk or lime.

In Britain, white bedstraw is common in lowland England. It is less common in the northern parts of England. It is very rare to find it in Scotland.

Different Types of White Bedstraw

Scientists have found a few different types of white bedstraw. These are called subspecies. As of May 2014, four main subspecies are known:

  • Galium album subsp. album - This is the most common type. It grows in most places where white bedstraw is found.
  • Galium album subsp. prusense - This type grows in places like Greece, Bulgaria, Crimea, Turkey, and the Caucasus region.
  • Galium album subsp. pycnotrichum - You can find this subspecies from Poland south to Greece and Turkey.
  • Galium album subsp. suberectum - This type grows in the Carpathian Mountains. These mountains are located in western Ukraine.

See also

In Spanish: Galio blanco para niños

Black History Month on Kiddle
Distinguished African-American Artists:
Sharif Bey
Hale Woodruff
Richmond Barthé
Purvis Young
kids search engine
White bedstraw Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.