bedstraw

bedstraw
/bed"straw'/, n.
a rubiaceous plant, Galium verum, or some allied species, formerly used as straw for stuffing mattresses.
[1350-1400; late ME; see BED, STRAW]

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Any low perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Galium, in the madder family, found in damp woods and swamps and along stream banks and shores.

Bedstraws bear finely toothed, often needle-shaped leaves in whorls of four to eight; clusters of small green, yellow, or white flowers; and fruit composed of two rounded nuts joined together. Northern bedstraw (G. boreale), marsh bedstraw (G. palustre), and goosegrass (G. aparine) are common throughout Europe and have become naturalized in parts of North America. Sweet woodruff (G. odoratum) smells like freshly mown hay; its dried shoots are used in perfumes, sachets, and beverages. The roots of several species yield a red dye.

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plant
also called  Cleavers,  
 any plant from the genus Galium of the madder family (Rubiaceae), containing about 300 species of low perennial herbs found in damp woods and swamps and along stream banks and shores throughout the world. The finely toothed, often needle-shaped leaves are borne in whorls of four to eight. The small flowers, borne in clusters, are green, yellow, or white. The fruit is composed of two rounded nuts that are joined together.

      Northern bedstraw (G. boreale), marsh bedstraw (G. palustre), and goosegrass (G. aparine) are common throughout Europe and have become naturalized in parts of North America. Sweet woodruff (G. odoratum, formerly Asperula odorata), or waldmeister, has an odour similar to that of freshly mown hay; its dried shoots are used in perfumes and sachets and for flavouring beverages. Lady's bedstraw, or yellow bedstraw (G. verum), is used in Europe to curdle milk and to colour cheese. The roots of several species of Galium yield a red dye.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bedstraw — Bed straw , n. 1. Straw put into a bed. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A genus of slender herbs, usually with square stems, whorled leaves, and small white flowers. [1913 Webster] {Our Lady s bedstraw}, which has yellow flowers, is {Galium… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bedstraw — [bed′strô΄] n. [from its former use as straw for beds] any of a genus (Galium) of small plants of the madder family, with whorled leaves and small flowers …   English World dictionary

  • bedstraw — n. 1 any herbaceous plant of the genus Galium, once used as straw for bedding. 2 (in full Our Lady s bedstraw) a bedstraw, G. verum, with yellow flowers …   Useful english dictionary

  • bedstraw — /ˈbɛdstrɔ/ (say bedstraw) noun any plant of the genus Galium, family Rubiaceae, so named from the former use of some species as straw for beds …  

  • bedstraw — noun Etymology: from its use for mattresses Date: 1527 any of a genus (Galium) of herbs of the madder family having squarish stems, whorled leaves, and small flowers …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • bedstraw — noun a plant of the madder family with small pointed leaves and hairy stems with small, white or yellow flowers …   Wiktionary

  • bedstraw — n. small plant once used as stuffing for mattresses …   English contemporary dictionary

  • bedstraw — noun a herbaceous plant with small flowers and whorls of slender leaves, formerly used for stuffing mattresses. [Genus Galium: several species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • bedstraw — bed•straw [[t]ˈbɛdˌstrɔ[/t]] n. pln any of various plants belonging to the genus Galium, of the madder family, esp. G. verum, used as straw for stuffing mattresses • Etymology: 1350–1400 …   From formal English to slang

  • Our Lady's bedstraw — Bedstraw Bed straw , n. 1. Straw put into a bed. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A genus of slender herbs, usually with square stems, whorled leaves, and small white flowers. [1913 Webster] {Our Lady s bedstraw}, which has yellow flowers, is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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