Why was this herb called bedstraw?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

June 28, 2002

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The cheese-rennings or bedstraws (Galium spp. Linnaeus) are small scrambling herbs in the madder family (Rubiaceae). Cheese-renning was used to curdle milk for cheeses and junkets (desserts of sweetened flavored milk). The generic name, Galium, comes from the Greek word, gala, meaning milk. There are an estimated 300 species world-wide. Today, they are frequently considered

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nursery and landscape weeds.

Cheese could be made with the enzymes (rennet) from the lining of a calf's stomach or using plants with enzymatic action. Gerard's Herbal (1633) states the preference, "The herb thereof is used for Rennet to make cheese...that the people of Tuscany or Hetruria do use to turn their milk, that the Cheese which they make of Sheeps and Goats milk might be the sweeter and more pleasant taste, and also more wholesome...."

The plants were "..used in ointments against burnings, and it stancheth blood...set asunning...with Oil Olive...it is good to anoint the wearied Traveller..." The plant, though, was considered an aphrodisiac in Gerard's day, "...the root...drunk in wine stirreth up bodily lust, and the flowers smelled...work the same effect."

Medieval legend believed bedstraw lined the manger in Bethlehem and was associated with Mary. Which may be the reason Galium verum Linnaeus, was popular during the Middle Ages. "'Our Lady's Bedstraw' is derived from its use in former day, even by ladies of rank, for stuffing beds." (Grieve's Modern Herbal, 1931).

Central Washington Native Plants has a photograph of Galium triflorum, the sweet-scented bedstraw. To view, click on the link:

http://www.cwnp.org/photopgs/gdoc/gatriflorum.html

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Suggested Reading:

What is an artichoke? Weird Plants - January 22, 2004
Stiff Marsh Bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) Plant of the Week - July 12, 2004
What were the Roman calends? What's in a Name? - February 22, 2002
What is fagot-wood? Plants that Changed History - March 18, 2003
What pain-killer came from a strewing herb? Herbal Folklore - December 10, 2001

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