Sweet-Scented Bedstraw (Galium triflorum)
Sweet-scented bedstraw is a creeping, perennial plant that is native to BC. It can grow along the ground or climb over other plants, and is mainly found in moist, forested areas. Sweet-scented bedstraw has oval-shaped leaves arranged in whorls of six along the stem. The flowers are small and white, and grow in clusters of three on stalks extending from the base of the leaves, or at the ends of stems.
The fruits of sweet-scented bedstraw are small, with tiny bristles that can stick to clothing or fur. The seeds can travel long distances before falling to the ground, which allows the plant to spread to new areas. Sweet-scented bedstraw can also reproduce vegetatively, by sending out runners.
The common name of sweet-scented bedstraw comes from the fact that the leaves have a vanilla-like smell when they are dried or crushed, and the plant has been used in the past to stuff mattresses. It has also been used in perfumes and teas. In natural ecosystems, sweet-scented bedstraw is a food source for large mammals such as deer, moose, and bears, especially in the early spring when other food sources are unavailable.
For more information about sweet-scented bedstraw, visit the Biodiversity of the Central Coast website, or E-Flora BC.