Practical
Plants

Galium verum

Lady's Bedstraw

a perennial member of the Galium genus in the family Rubiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Galium
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Flies, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Beetles, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked[22][7]. A yellow dye from the flowering stems is used as a food colouring[2][8]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[24]. The seed is also said to be edible[7]. The chopped up plant can be used as a rennet to coagulate plant milks[24][23][3][8][15]. The flowering tops are distilled in water to make a refreshing acid beverage[9][8].

Product or use
Coffee
Product or use
Colouring
Product or use
Curdling agent
Product or use
Drink
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Lady's bedstraw has a long history of use as a herbal medicine, though it is little used in modern medicine. Its main application is as a diuretic and as a treatment for skin complaints[16]. The leaves, stems and flowering shoots are antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, foot care, lithontripic and vulnerary[18][24][25]. The plant is used as a remedy in gravel, stone or urinary disorders[18][25][19][13] and is believed to be a remedy for epilepsy[18][12]. A powder made from the fresh plant is used to soothe reddened skin and reduce inflammation[24] whilst the plant is also used as a poultice on cuts, skin infections, slow-healing wounds etc[25]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use[25]. A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance that produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant dries[13]. Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making the genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry[13].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Foot care
Product or use
Lithontripic
Product or use
Vulnerary

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red dye is obtained from the root[18][20][24][23][3]. It is rather fiddly to utilize[5]. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowering tops[18][24][3]. The dye is obtained from the foliage when it is boiled with alum[11]. The dried plant has the scent of newly mown hay, it was formerly used as a strewing herb[14] and for stuffing mattresses etc[21][23][3]. It is said to keep fleas away[11]. A sprig in a shoe is said to prevent blisters[23].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Strewing
Product or use
Stuffing

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia.
Habitat
Waste ground, roadsides etc[24], mainly near the sea[18], on all but the most acid soils[6].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe in late summer[10]. The seed can also be sown in situ in the spring though it may be very slow to germinate[10]. Division in spring. The plant can be successfully divided throughout the growing season if the divisions are kept moist until they are established[10]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a loose moist leafy soil in some shade, but it tolerates a position in full sun[4]. Plants are tolerant of dry soils[1], but do not thrive in a hot climate. They dislike very acid soils[6][19]. A very invasive plant[1], though it is low-growing and mixes without harm with any plants at least 60cm tall[K]. It grows well in the summer meadow[14] and is a food plant for the larvae of several species of butterflies[17].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩

  5. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  12. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  13. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  15. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩

  16. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  17. Carter D. Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe. Pan 1982-00-00 ISBN 0-330-26642-x

    ↩

  18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  19. De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  20. Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose. Fontana 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-00-635555-2

    ↩

  21. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  22. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  23. Ahrendt. Berberis and Mahonia. Journal of the Linnean Society, 57 1961-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  24. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  25. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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