[+][+] Leaves narrow; flowers bright white, numerous in a compact panicle.
8. G. boreàle, L. (Northern Bedstraw.) Smooth (1–2° high); leaves linear-lanceolate; fruit minutely bristly, sometimes smooth.—Rocky banks of streams, Maine to Penn., Iowa, Minn., and westward. (Eu., Asia.)
[*][*][*] Leaves in 4's, 5's, or 6's, small, 1-nerved; flowers white; fruit smooth (flowers greenish and fruit hispid in n. 12.)
[+] Leaves pointless.
9. G. trífidum, L. (Small Bedstraw.) Stems weak, ascending (5–20´ high), branching, mostly roughened backwards on the angles; leaves in whorls of 4 to 6, linear or oblanceolate, the margins and midrib rough; peduncles scattered, 1–7-flowered; corolla-lobes and stamens often only 3.—Sphagnous bogs and wet ground, throughout the continent. Exceedingly variable.—Var. pusíllum, Gray, the smallest form; leaves only in 4's, 3–4´´ long, narrow, in age often reflexed; peduncles 1-flowered. In cold bogs, northward.—Var. latifòlium, Torr., the larger and broadest-leaved form; leaves 6 or 7´´ long, often 2´´ wide. From Canada, south and west. (Eu., Asia.)
10. G. concínnum, Torr. & Gray. Stems low and slender (6–12´ high), with minutely roughened angles; leaves all in 6's, linear, slightly pointed, veinless, the margins upwardly roughened; peduncles 2–3 times forked, diffusely panicled; pedicels short.—Dry hills, Penn. to Va., west to Minn., Iowa, and Ark.
[+][+] Leaves cuspidately mucronate or acuminate.
11. G. aspréllum, Michx. (Rough Bedstraw.) Stem much branched, rough backwards with hooked prickles, leaning on bushes (3–5° high); leaves in whorls of 6, or 4–5 on the branchlets, oval-lanceolate, with almost prickly margins and midrib; peduncles short, 2–3 times forked.—Alluvial ground, N. Eng. to N. C., west to Minn., Iowa, and Mo.
12. G. triflòrum, Michx. (Sweet-scented Bedstraw.) Stem (1–3° long) bristly-roughened backward on the angles; leaves elliptical-lanceolate, bristle pointed, with slightly roughened margins (1–2´ long); peduncles 3-flowered, the flowers all pedicelled, greenish; fruit beset with hooked bristles.—Rich woodlands, throughout the continent. Sweet-scented in drying. (Eu.)
§ 3. Perennial; fruit a berry; leaves in 4's, 1-nerved.