Lady's Bedstraw
Galiium verum

Legends say that much of the hay in the manger at the stable on the night of the Nativity came to bloom in celebration. Among the legendary plants was sainfoin, a European legume related to the vetches, with spikes of pink flowers. It is supposed to have formed a wreath around the head of the Babe. The common name, sainfoin, means wholesome hay, not holy hay as it sometimes said.

Also in the stable's legendary hay was lady's bedstraw, member of a family of weeds common in America and often called cleavers. In Europe it was used to stuff mattresses because it was supposed to repeal fleas. The legends say Mary lay on a bed of this bedstraw and that when Jesus was born it burst into yellow bloom. For this is was regarded with golden flowers, though most bedstraws have white flowers.