Galium tinctorium
(Galium comes from Greek gala, for milk, because the plants have an ancient history for curdling milk, tinctorium means used for dye.)
Rubiaceae (Coffee Family) (Art by Heather Calderon)
Galium obovatum by John Bradford
John and I worked on weeds in Halpatioke Park today near Stuart, Florida. How many species of weeds compete within a 100 yard square? Bedstraws, species of Galium, are little weedy charmers in the Coffee Family with good looks, nice aromas, and historic roles in human affairs. Galium is a huge worldwide genus, about 600 species.
Galium tinctorium by JB
Today’s species ranges essentially from the Arctic Circle through Florida to the tropics. It likes low wet grassy places.
If you read the explanation of name above, you can stop reading now, as that is the story. But if choose to proceed, let’s start with the milk thing. Vegetarians watch what cheeses they eat, or should, because most rennets (enzymes used to curdle milk proteins into cheeses) come from the fourth stomach of unweaned calves. For those who want none of that, there are chymosin “fermentation” rennets using calf genes genetically engineered into microbes. Behind door number three are vegetable and microbial rennets dating back into antiquity, and Galiums are among these. Even better, Galiums do not merely harden cheese, but they also color it ever so tempting. (See their next set of useful attributes.)
Before that, however, a question: Why would a plant develop the ability to coagulate animal proeins? My guess is to deter herbivory, and that calls for an experiment. Excuse me while I go fetch a piece of bedstraw to micro-nibble. (Result below)
Red pigment in the weird fruits.
Bedstraws have a second set of ancient uses in addition to stuffing mattresses and making cheese. Civilizations around the world use them as dyes. They are very closely related to the madder dyes, and have quite a history of their own. The lower portions of the plants and the roots yield a red or yellow dye.
Red pigment in plant base.
And that brings us to the final unwise use. Please do not eat the weeds. People have some history of eating some Galiums under certain circumstances. I’ll say boringly that the plant is loaded with bioactive principles. And far more interestingly, there is a report that eating Galium dyes the bones red. I have no idea if that is so, but…..
John Bradford
George Rogers
George Rogers
Dee Staley
Treasure Coast Natives 
Chris Lockhart
March 24, 2018 at 7:55 am
I’m glad you are still here to write about it. Love the humor. 🙂 and the history.
Did anything like your saliva have a different color? Enjoy the beautiful weather!
George Rogers
March 24, 2018 at 11:54 am
Hi Chris, We gotta be here. The local “active botanist” club is small. No different color seen. I soak up every possible moment of this weather, including playing hookey to go botanize, which is not really hookey for you and me is it?
David Chaimowitz
March 24, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Always look forward to the next article. I absolutely love natural plant activity without an artificially provided environment
George Rogers
March 24, 2018 at 3:32 pm
David, me too…long time no see, how are u?
theshrubqueen
March 24, 2018 at 5:36 pm
I think I need to digest this, not a vegetarian, though. Not eating this one, either.I have these,not weeds,on my irrigated sugar sand. Amazed at the variety of plant life in one square yard! My bones may be red as I attended UGA or pulled up one too many weeeds.
George Rogers
March 24, 2018 at 5:49 pm
uga represents with style but not a greyhound
Uncle Tree
March 24, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Good grief, George. I didn’t need to know that about cheese.
The fourth stomach? Good golly. Unforgettable! Thanks a bunch.
On another note ♪ I’m reminded of “Redbone”, a Native American band from the 70’s. Hmmm…
George Rogers
March 27, 2018 at 8:59 am
UT..there is a comment similar to yours by Pat Bowman on the FB page…you two have good memories. And right…four stomachs? Often at 10 pm with pizza in the fridge I feel like I’ve got 4 stomachs. (My wildlife biologist wife just explained to me that the 4 stomachs are “more like 4 chambers, not fully developed separate stomachs.”)
Uncle Tree
March 27, 2018 at 6:21 pm
LoL! 🙂
To add to this space oddity, Redbone was a one-hit wonder in America.
(I googled them before I responded the first time.)
“Come And Get Your Love” from 1974. For sure, I remembered that song.
Then, last night, as I was watching TV, a JCPenny commercial came on and…whoa. What?
They’re playing that 44-year old song! Weird, huh?
John Bradford
March 27, 2018 at 7:19 pm
I don’t chime in often, but to disparage Leon Redbone as a one-hit wonder is an insult to a very unique musician that I respected. A lot of really good musicians would attend his gigs after they were done playing. He had a very unique style that was widely appreciated.
Uncle Tree
March 27, 2018 at 7:31 pm
Nay, we’re not talking about Leon, John.
REDBONE was a Cajun/Native American band. See Google.
George Rogers
March 27, 2018 at 6:36 pm
oh that is a little spooky…and you’d be exactly the guy to catch the coincidence
Sally Brodie
April 19, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Have not seen a post from you for almost a month. Is everything ok?