Settle Wildflowers - Day 46 - White 11 - Bedstraw family 1

Bedstraws have  narrow leaves in whorls - of usually 4 to 6 (-12) 

Three common white bedstraws in flower now within lockdown walk of Settle/Langcliffe are: 

Heath Bedstraw, Limestone Bedstraw (special to upland limestone in North of Britain) and Marsh Bedstraw

Galium saxatile, Galium sterneri and Galium palustre:

1. Heath Bedstraw: Galium saxatile

This grows on acid soils. It has forward pointing hooks on the edge of its leaves. The tip of the leaves have a very short spine (point/mucron), but are more rounded than Limestone Bedstraw below

Mitchell Lane that runs up the hill south of Settle is on millstone grit, so the road verges there have Heath Bedstraw

Heath Bedstraw  25 May

Looking close 

Heath Bedstraw - Forward pointing hooks on the leaves

2. Limestone Bedstraw: Galium sterneri

This grows on limestone soils and rocks in the north of Britain. It has backward pointing hairs on the leaves,  Its leaves are more tapering and the point at the tapering tip of the leaf is long.

(Take care because deeper soil in limestone areas can support Heath Bedstraw)

Limestone Bedstraw: 5 June

Limestone Bedstraw: See the long spine at the leaf tips

You cannot see the backwards pointing hooks on these leaves in this picture.  I need to go out and take another picture.  I will add one when I get one. I just went on a 30 min walk now - only to prove that Limestone Bedstraw does not grow low down close to my house, only high up away from civilisation and pollution.

3. Marsh Bedstraw. Galium palustre

This has slightly rough stems;  (The two species above have smooth stems)  The leaves do not have a spine at the tip, They just have an acute end (or very occasionally a very very short one) .

The hairs /hooks on the edges of the leaves, especially the part of the leaf nearest the stem point backwards.

The hairs/hooks near the tips can point various ways.

It grows in wet areas.

Marsh Bedstraw: Galium palustre;  16 June

Marsh Bedstraw: Galium palustre; 

Marsh Bedstraw: Galium palustre;