^№10
Lady’s bedstraw

Galium verum

In Christian legend, one of the “cradle herbs” in Christ’s manger in Bethlehem, and known in medieval times as “our Lady’s bedstraw ”.

Around the time of Henry VIII’s reign was also known as “maids’ hair”, as: “maydens did wear silken callis to keep in order their hayre made yellow with dye” – the stem and leaves of bedstraw produce a bright yellow dye (however in the Hebrides the roots were traditionally used to produce a bright red dye, similar to madder, with which to dye wool; the precursor of Harris Tweed).