Genuine bedstraw

Description real genuine bedstraw – Galium Verum

The real bedstraw is a perennial. It reaches a height of approx. 10 – 70 cm. The stem is at least above clearly square and carries numerous leaf whorls to 6 – 12 leaves.

The leaf tops are very shiny and the leaf edge is rolled down. Like the stem, the undersides of the leaves are short-haired and matt. The perennial leaves are very narrow – linear, needle-like, only up to about 1 mm wide and up to 15 mm long.

The small, honey-scented flowers have four golden yellow petals. They are grouped into dense, narrow panicles at the stem ends.

Occurrence of real bedstraw

The real bedstraw has a relatively large amplitude at various locations. It ranges from dryThe dry matter refers to that portion of the cheese that remains after removal of the water contained. The more water is removed from the cheese, the lower its dry matter and vice versa. » More info grasslands to meadow meadows with low moisture content and moistened meadows with whistling grass. However, calcareous soils are preferred. The species is regarded as a lean indicator with a rather low feed value.

The plant adapted to drought is a popular bee pastureHere in Austria, we call our fresh, natural milk for our cheese production hay milk (hay mild standard) - in Germany it is different. » More info with main flowering during the summer months.

Effect of real bedstraw

The popular name bedstraw refers to the mostly historical use of the plant in cheese production. The Labkraut species contain the ferment rennetNatural rennet is a mixture of the enzymes chymosin and pepsin, which is obtained from the abomasum of young ruminants in milk-drinking age. » More info, in the case of the real Labkraut up to 1%.

The plant is also used in folk medicine. Above all, it is used as a diuretic and for skin diseases. However, there is no scientific confirmation of the effect. It is rarely used as a colorant, the flowers turn yellow (cheese) and the roots turn redAerobic cheese ripening means cheese ripening with oxygen. » More info.