Top part is Limestone Bedstraw Bottom is Heath Bedstraw
Photo: 22nd June 2019 Hutton Roof
Top part is Limestone Bedstraw Bottom is Heath Bedstraw
Photo: 22nd June 2019 Hutton Roof
On Hutton Roof we have both Galium sterneri (Limestone Bedstraw) and Galium saxatile (Heath Bedstraw) and although the Galium sterneri (Limestone Bedstraw) is a much rarer plant nationally, here it remains the commoner of the two. The reasons are the Galium sterneri (Limestone Bedstraw) is found more or less throughout the full 100 hectares of Hutton Roof, whilst the Galium saxatile (Heath Bedstraw) although found in much more larger density and matt forming quantities it remains to be found only in areas of open heathland just like we have got at the Trig Point, Ploverlands and Uberash roughs.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell which are which at first glance and therefore you need to check them close up by using a small hand lens.
You can tell by the shape of the leaf, but the conclusive can be by seeing which way the bristles on the edges of the leaves are pointing eg: Bristles going backwards and point to the stem are Galium sterneri (Limestone Bedstraw), whilst bristles going forwards are Galium saxatile (Heath Bedstraw). Please enlarge the above photos to see the examples.
Galium saxatile (Heath Bedstraw) (Click over to enlarge)
Photo: near Trig Point, Hutton Roof Common
Above photo shows Galium saxatile (Heath Bedstraw) in its large density matt forming. This area is part of a area of approx 240cm (8ft diameter), where usually sterneri is found in smaller density eg: up to approx 60cm (2ft),