Lady’s bedstraw 
Lady’s bedstraw (scientific name Galium verum) is a very graceful plant, which sways in the wind with its golden yellow flowering stems. 30-90 cm tall, belongs to the Rubiaceae family.
The leaves are arranged in a star shape, both on the stems and on the side branches. The yellow flowers are arranged in dense and long panicles ; their pollination takes place mainly through flies 
and beetles 
.
; their pollination takes place mainly through flies and beetles .Throughout Europe yellow flowers were used in the past to curdle milk to produce cheese 
(hence the name “Galium”, from the Greek gála = milk).
(hence the name “Galium”, from the Greek gála = milk).Lady’s bedstraw grows in arid meadows, on the edge of the woods, in stony places up to 1700 m above sea level.
This plant has coloring properties: with the root it can be dyed red and with the flowers yellow-orange.
Did you know? 
According to a medieval legend, the Madonna lay in Bethlehem 
on a bed of Galium verum, because the donkeys had eaten any other fodder present in the stable.
on a bed of Galium verum, because the donkeys had eaten any other fodder present in the stable.#LIFEprogramme #LIFEproject #EUpollinators #Natura2000
#Galium #bedstraw #pollinators #bees
Photo Pixabay
