Galium boreale

Galium boreale Common Names sweet woodruf, bedstraw Family Madder Flower Color White Plant Type Herb Location McCall and many locations Weed Yes

Bedstraw, sweet woodruf had many uses in the older days. These are a few:

Medicinal uses: It was once used to slow bleeding, ease childbirth, increase the appetite, reduce fever, and remove freckles.

Food uses: When the seeds are roasted, they can be used like coffee. The leaves can curdle milk to make cheese.

Other uses: It has a very pleasant scent when it is crushed

It also used to be thought that if newlyweds stuffed their mattresses with bedstraw, they would have many children. Another legend claims that there was bedstraw in Christ's manger.