Galium odoratum (Sweet-Scented Bedstraw)

Sweet-scented bedstraw (aka sweet woodruff) is native to Europe and north Africa. This mat-forming plant produces whorls of 6 to 8 fragrant leaves, which smell of new-mown hay. The leaves can be used to flavor tea or make potpourri. It readily self-seeds and can quickly spread around the garden if growing conditions are fertile.

Habitat: terrestrial

Flower petal color: green to brown, white, yellow

Leaf type: the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)

Leaf arrangement: whorled: there are three or more leaves per node along the stem

Leaf blade edges: the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)

Flower symmetry: there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)

Number of sepals, petals or tepals: there are four petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower

Fusion of sepals and petals: the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube

Stamen number: 4

Fruit type (general): the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe

Fruit length: 0.2–0.6 mm