Flower:

Flowers are in clusters of 1 to 3 (usually 3); 1 to a few clusters arise from the leaf axils. Flowers are about 1/8 inch across with 4 greenish white petals sharply pointed at the tip, and 4 greenish white stamens. The Latin name triflorum refers to the clusters of 3 flowers, so is an aid in identification.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are whorled in groups of 6, rarely 5, ½ to 2½ inches long and up to ½ inch wide. The shape is slightly variable but leaves in a whorl are pretty consistently sized and shaped, elliptical or widest at the tip end, with an abrupt sharp point at the tip. Fine hairs are around the leaf edges and the midrib on the underside; leaf texture is smooth to slightly rough. Stems are square and sparsely hairy along the angles, also feel smooth to slightly rough. It grows sprawling along the ground or leaning on other plants, has few branches but typically several stems.

Fruit:

Fruit is a pair of tiny, round pods covered in hooked hairs, each pod containing a seed.

Notes:

There are multiple species of bedstraw with 4-petaled flowers and leaves whorled in 6s. Fragrant Bedstraw most closely resembles Rough Bedstraw (Galium asprellum) but the latter is extremely rough textured (sticks to everything!), much more heavily branched and clusters mostly with more than 3 flowers. Fragrant Bedstraw leaves are supposed to have a vanilla scent, especially when dried. It is found in woodlands of most MN counties.