Bedstraw Family

Bedstraw Family - Rubiaceae

Field Madder Sherardia arvensis

Native through Europe and the Mediterranean Region to western Asia and Iran. Typically found on disturbed or cultivated ground.


Habit	Flowers	Leaves	Leaves

Broad-leaved Crucianella Crucianella latifolia

Native throughout most of the Mediterranean Region and in Crimea. A plant of disturbed or cultivated ground.


Habit	Flowers	Flowers	Flower

Flower bracts	Leaves

Lady's Bedstraw Galium verum

Native throughout temperate and warm temperate Eurasia. The very narrow, dark green leaves are easily overlooked amongst grass stems, but when in flower, the frothy heads of bright yellow are readily identified.


Habit	Flowers	Flowers	Leaves

Common Cleavers Galium aparine

Native throughout temperate Eurasia, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Fruits covered in hooked hairs.


Habit	Flowers	Leaves and stem	Fruit

Corn Cleavers Galium tricornutum

Native throughout Europe and the Mediterranean Region, eastwards to India and China. Resembles Common Cleavers but fruits without hooked hairs and fruit stalks recurving as the fruits develop.


Habit	Flowers	Flowers	Flowers

Leaves	Leaf detail	Young fruit

Dense-flowered Bedstraw Galium floribundum

Native to the eastern Aegean Islands, Turkey and Cyprus. A distinctive species with whitish hairs clothing all parts of the plant, but rather small and easily overlooked.


Habit	Habit	Flower buds	Leaves and stem

Short-leaved Bedstraw Galium brevifolium

Native to the eastern Aegean Islands and western Turkey. A slender annual to 25cm tall with shiny, hairless stems. Leaves in whorls of 6(-8) with bristly margins, the bristles directed towards the tip. Flowers 3mm across, whitish to pale pink. Fruits 1.5mm across, bristly with thickened and recurved pedicels when mature.


Leaves	Leaves and stem	Young fruits	Young fruits

Yellow Wall Bedstraw Galium murale

Native from Macaronesia eastwards through the Mediterranean Region to Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. A tiny species with white or pink-tinged flowers just 0.5-1mm across and leaves to 2mm wide.


Habit	Flowers

Leaves	Leaves	Fruits	Fruits

Piedmont Crosswort Cruciata pedemontana

Native from north-west Africa and southern Europe to western and Central Asia.


Habit	Habit	Flowers	Flowers

Leaves	Leaves and young fruits

Bristly Crosswort Valantia hispida

Native from the Canary Islands, through the Mediterranean Region to Iran, the Arabian Peninsula and the horn of Africa. Stems more or less hispid throughout; fruits with a strongly bristly covering.


Habit	Habit	Flowers	Fruit

Wall Crosswort Valantia muralis

Native to the Mediterranean Region. Stems hispid only towards the top; fruits with a whiskered covering.


Habit	Habit	Flowers

Leaves	Fruits	Fruits

Common Madder Rubia peregrina

Native to Western Europe and the Mediterranean Region. Very variable in leaf shape; usually with rough bristles along the margins but sometimes absent.


Habit	Flowers	Flowers	Leaves

Leaves	Leaves	Leaf	Fruits

Dog-cabbage Theligonum cynocrambe

Native from the Canary Islands, through the Mediterranean Region to Iran, the Arabian Peninsula and the horn of Africa. Common in dry, rocky places and amongst stonework in urban areas. Can be mistaken for a chickweed, but leaves are slightly fleshy.


Habit	Habit	Habit	Habit

Flowers	Leaves	Leaves	Prickly Leaf margin

Flora of Lesvos An Identification Guide

Bedstraw Family

Bedstraw Family - Rubiaceae

Species List

Flora of Lesvos
An Identification Guide