Eloise Butler may have recorded this plant as being present in the Garden, perhaps as early as 1907 when she noted "3 species Galium" on May 25th. Martha Crone listed it on her 1951 Garden Census, and it has been listed on all the later census. It is fairly widespread in Minnesota, most absences are in the northern part of the state, particularly the Arrowhead. In North America it is native to all the U.S. and in the southern Canadian Provinces it is considered both native in certain areas and introduced in others.

There are about 60 species of Bedstraw in North America. Twelve species are reported to be found in Minnesota, two of which are considered introductions. Of the ten native species, 6 are found in the Garden: G. aparine, Cleavers; G. asprellum, Rough Bedstraw; G. boreale, Northern Bedstraw; G. concinnum, Shining Bedstraw; G. trifidum, Threepetal Bedstraw; and G. triflorum, Fragrant Bedstraw.

Comparisons: Of the Bedstraws native to Minnesota the common ones are: Galium aparine L.- (Stickywilly aka Cleavers) which has very weak stems, 4-petal flowers, hairy leaves of 6 to 8 and hooked hairs on the seed capsule, grows as an annual; G. asprellum, Rough Bedstraw, has rough stems and leaves (whorl of 6 - 4 or 5 on side branches), is sprawling, and only a few 4-part flowers per cluster, but the clusters fork 1 to 3 times, seed pod is without bristles; G. labradoricum, Labrador Bedstraw, is sprawling, leaves with backward curving tips in a whorl of 4, clusters of only 3 flowers and is found in wet cold places; G. tinctorium, Small Bedstraw, is also sprawling in wet places, leaves of 4 to 6 in a whorl with very small 3-lobed flowers with stalks less than 1/4 inch long; G. trifidum, Three-lobed Bedstraw, is sprawling, leaves in a whorl of 4, small clusters of 1 to 3 3-parted flowers with stalks over 1/4 inch long; and G. triflorum, Fragrant Bedstraw, sprawling, with abruptly pointed leaves in a whorl of 6 with a vanilla odor when crushed, 4 -parted flowers in forked clusters of 3, smooth stem nodes, hair on other parts and leaf edges.

Lore and Uses: The seeds, lightly roasted, are said to make a caffeine free coffee substitute. Merritt Fernald (Ref. #6) wrote European writers are agreed that the seeds of Cleavers make the best substitute for coffee in our northern flora. When dried and slightly roasted the seeds have the flavor or aroma of coffee. This fact is of special interest since the genus Galium belongs to the same natural family [the Rubiaceae] as true coffee." A tea made from parts of the entire plant, except the root, was used for kidney stones and bladder problems. The shoots are rich in Vitamin C and were once used a spring tonic and a cure for scurvy. A wash made from the plant was said to fade freckles and sunburn as well as treat psoriasis. A tea brew was drunk to help coagulate the blood. (Ref.#7)

Nicolas Culpeper (Ref. #4b) wrote that "The juice of the herb and the seed together taken in wine, helpeth those bitten with an adder, by preserving the heart from the venom. It is familiarly taken in broth, to keep them lean and lank that are apt to grow fat.. . .It is a good remedy in the spring, eaten (being first chopped small, and boiled well) in water-gruel to cleanse the blood, and strengthen the liver, thereby to keep the body in health, and fitting it for the change of season that is coming."

Parkinson (Ref.#34d) wrote, in regards the fine hooked hairs, that "the herb serveth well the Country people in stead of a strainer, to cleare their milke from strawes, haires, of any other thing that falleth into it." The Greek Dioscorides reported that shepherds of his day made such sieves.