Galium album | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Rubiaceae |
Genus: | Galium |
Species: | G. album |
Binomial name | |
Galium album | |
Subspecies | |
Synonyms | |
Species [2]
Subspecies G. album subsp. album [3]
G. album subsp. prusense [4]
G. album subsp. pycnotrichum [5]
G. album subsp. suberectum [6]
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Galium album, common names white bedstraw [7] and upright hedge bedstraw, [8] is an annual, herbaceous plant of the family Rubiaceae and is native to much of Europe.
The stems can grow to at least 150 centimetres (5 feet) and are more or less erect with ascending branches. The stem is square in sections with slight flanges. The plant is relatively hairless with shiny leaves and stem. Flowers are white or yellowish. [9] The fruits are hairless. [10] [11]
Galium album is widespread over much of Europe, native to a large region from Britain to Morocco, east to Turkey and Western Siberia. It has been introduced and is naturalized in Ireland, Scandinavia, Greenland and South Australia. [2] It is found in pastures and grassy banks, especially on dry calcareous soils. In Britain, G. album is local in lowland England, rare in the north, and very rare in Scotland. [9]
Five subspecies were accepted by Plants of the World Online as of December 2024 [update] , listed here with their native distributions: [2]