Rough Bedstraw

Galium asprellum, in the Madder family, is similar to northern bedstraw’s 4-petaled flowers, pointed at the tip, about 1/8″ across. Flowers are a bit smaller than those of northern bedstraw, which can be up to 1/4″ across. Downward pointed hairs on the stems and leaves of rough bedstraw allow it it hang on to neighboring foliage and billow up 4 to 6 feet in height. Tiny leaves (up to 3/4″ long and narrow) are whorled mostly in groups of 6, sometimes 4s and 5s on branches.