Best time to see: mid Jun to mid Aug

Key facts

Fen bedstraw scrambles up through tall vegetation in damp meadows and fens

Tiny white flowers with yellow anthers; needle-like leaves are in rings of 6-8 round the stems

Marsh bedstraw has leaves in whorls of 4–5 and red anthers; grows beside streams and in wet ditches

Extras

Has a pleasant smell when dried and formerly was used for bedding