FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Galium boreale, Northern Bedrstraw

Galium boreale. The northern bedstraw is quite common in the southern and western regions of Iceland. However, it can also be found commonly in other grassy and relatively better vegetated regions of Iceland, It prefers grassy areas and heather country. A very similar species is the rarer fen bedstraw (G. uliginosum) which has only whorls of more than 4 leaves whereas the northern bedstraw only has 4 leaved-whorls. Much more common is the Slender bedstraw (Galium normannii). This plant is however a low soil-creeping plant that can be found in dry area's like gravel-rich soils and hillsides. The Lady's bedstraw is a yellow flowering relative Galium verum.
They are members of the Madder family (Rubiaceae).

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