Smooth Bedstraw: Galium mollugo
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Weed Description: A perennial
with square stems and whorls of 6 to 8 leaves. Smooth bedstraw is primarily a weed
of landscapes, nursery crops, turfgrass, and lawns that is found throughout the United
States. Seedling: Plants normally spread via rhizomes and stolons therefore seedlings are rarely encountered. Cotyledons oval and occur on petioles that are notched at the apex. |
| Leaves: Occur in whorls of 6 to
8. Leaves are without hairs but may occasionally have hairs along the margins.
Leaves are approximately 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches long by 2 to 4 mm wide. Leaves
are without petioles (sessile). Stems: Stems are square in cross-section and without hairs. Roots: Rhizomes and stolons occur. |
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Flowers: Produced in clusters on a
flower stalk that arises from the area between the stem and leaves (leaf axils).
Flowers consist of 4 white petals. Fruit: A 2-parted capsule that separates at maturity. |
| Identifying Characteristics:
The whorled leaves of this plant makes it easily distinguishable from most other weeds
except catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine) and Field
Madder (Sherardia arvensis), which are both very similar in appearance and
growth habit. However, catchweed bedstraw has hairs on the upper leaf surfaces and
also has stems with tiny prickles. Additionally, catchweed bedstraw does not have
rhizomes or stolons like smooth bedstraw. Field madder generally has smaller leaves
than the bedstraws and the leaves occur in whorls of 4 to 6. The leaves of field
madder are also more lanceolate and have much more of a distinct point than those of the
bedstraw species. |
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