2. (Bot.) A genus of slender herbs, usually with square
stems, whorled leaves, and small white flowers.
[1913 Webster]
{Our Lady's bedstraw}, which has yellow flowers, is {Galium
verum}.
{White bedstraw} is {Galium mollugo}. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
bedstraw — [bed′strô΄] n. [from its former use as straw for beds] any of a genus (Galium) of small plants of the madder family, with whorled leaves and small flowers … English World dictionary
bedstraw — /bed straw /, n. a rubiaceous plant, Galium verum, or some allied species, formerly used as straw for stuffing mattresses. [1350 1400; late ME; see BED, STRAW] * * * Any low perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Galium, in the madder family,… … Universalium
bedstraw — n. 1 any herbaceous plant of the genus Galium, once used as straw for bedding. 2 (in full Our Lady s bedstraw) a bedstraw, G. verum, with yellow flowers … Useful english dictionary
bedstraw — /ˈbɛdstrɔ/ (say bedstraw) noun any plant of the genus Galium, family Rubiaceae, so named from the former use of some species as straw for beds …
bedstraw — noun Etymology: from its use for mattresses Date: 1527 any of a genus (Galium) of herbs of the madder family having squarish stems, whorled leaves, and small flowers … New Collegiate Dictionary
bedstraw — noun a plant of the madder family with small pointed leaves and hairy stems with small, white or yellow flowers … Wiktionary
bedstraw — n. small plant once used as stuffing for mattresses … English contemporary dictionary
bedstraw — noun a herbaceous plant with small flowers and whorls of slender leaves, formerly used for stuffing mattresses. [Genus Galium: several species.] … English new terms dictionary
bedstraw — bed•straw [[t]ˈbɛdˌstrɔ[/t]] n. pln any of various plants belonging to the genus Galium, of the madder family, esp. G. verum, used as straw for stuffing mattresses • Etymology: 1350–1400 … From formal English to slang
Our Lady's bedstraw — Bedstraw Bed straw , n. 1. Straw put into a bed. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A genus of slender herbs, usually with square stems, whorled leaves, and small white flowers. [1913 Webster] {Our Lady s bedstraw}, which has yellow flowers, is… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
