Common Name: Wild Madder, White Bedstraw, Hedge bedstraw, Whorled Bedstraw, False Baby’s breath
Specific Name: Galium mollugo
Known Occurrence at Taylor Point:
Map Areas: Bridge 4A
Category: Non-Native, Herbaceous Plant
Ecological Considerations:
Galium mollugo, commonly known as Wild Madder or White Bedstraw, is a herbaceous annual plant that grows from six inches to three or even four feet tall. Is distinguished by whorls of six to eight leaves and hairless vine-like stems.The leaf blade has no lobes or teeth. Its stems are square and grow more or less erect with ascending branches. It blooms from May to September. Its small white flowers are about 1/8 inch, are radially symmetrical, have four petals and grow on clusters from the leaf axils.
Wild Madder commonly grows in disturbed areas, meadows and fields.
Problems Posed by this Plant:
It can serve as a host to arachnids like mites and ticks.
Native Species Affected by this Plant:
Propagation Mechanisms/Strategies for Encouraging its Establishment:
Factors Affording a Competitive Advantage to this Plant:
Propagation Mechanisms and Related Issues Affecting Efforts to Remove or Eliminate this Plant from Taylor Point:
Wild Madder reproduces by seeds and by rhizomes and stolons. The fruit it produces is a round smooth egg-shaped, dry, berry-like pod up to ¼ inch long.
Documented Best removal Practices and Options/Pros and Cons of Various Options:
Additional Photos:
Sources cited:
Go Botany
U. Mass.
All Creatures
Wiki Wild Madder
French Hill Pond
Key Words:
Galium mollugo
Wild Madder
White Bedstraw
Hedge Bedstraw
Whorled Bedstraw
False Baby’s breath
Bridge 4A