Question: I'm thinking this Bedstraw is Gallium album or mollugo. Looks to me more like album, which is not reported for …
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Question
I'm thinking this Bedstraw is Gallium album or mollugo. Looks to me more like album, which is not reported for Newburyport area. Found on the Joppa Flats Education Center grounds. Are these photos good enough to differentiate, or is it another species altogether?
Answer
Dear chafeemonell, your plant looks like Galium album or G. mollugo. From an image it is very difficult to tell these two species apart. The best way to determine this is to press some of the flowers flat and, once dried, measure the diameter of the flowers. Those of Galium album are usually 3--5 mm in diameter, those of Galium mollugo are usually 2--3 mm in diameter. They only need a couple of days to dry in a press or book, etc. Good luck.
