54 Class IV. Order I. 



X 



60. GALIUM. 



GALIUM ASPRELLUM. Mich. Pointed Cleavers or Clivers. 

 4- Stem decumbent, rough backward ; leaves in six- 

 es, oval-lanceolate with a flaccid point ; flowers on 

 very short pedicels ; fruit smooth. Mich. abr. 



Found in thickets and low grounds. Stem weak, supported 

 by plants around it, like many others of the genus ; rough with 

 minute reflexed prickles, as are also the ribs and margins of the 

 leaves. Leaves in whorls of six, lanceolate, with a slender, sca- 

 rious, curved point. Flowers white. Fruit smooth, very minute. 

 June, July. Perennial. 



GALIUM SEPTENTRIONALE. R. ^ & Northern Galium. 



Stem erect, smooth ; leaves in fours linear-lanceo- 

 late, acute, with the margin and midrib rough ; pan- 

 icle terminal ; fruit hispid. 



Syn. GALIUM BORKALE. Pursh. 



The stem of this species is erect, square, and perfectly smooth. 

 Leaves narrow lanceolate, acute, the margin rough and often 

 revolute. Flowers numerous, white, in a terminal panicle with 

 trichotomous brunches. Fruit covered with minute bristles. 

 Woods. July, August. Perennial. 



It approaches very near to G. boreale of Europe, and may 

 perhaps be a variety. But on comparing it with specimens from 

 England and Germany, I find it constantly differs in the smooth- 

 ness of its stem, and its narrower, longer, and more acute leaves. 



GALIUM TINCTORIUM. L. Dyers Cleavers. 



Leaves linear, those of the stem in sixes, of the 

 branches in fours ; stem flaccid ; peduncles two 

 flowered ; fruit smooth. L. 



A weak, branching plant, rough with reflexed prickles. 

 Leaves linear-lanceolate, obtuse, whorled, the larger ones in 

 sixes, smaller ones in fours. Peduncles very small, supporting 

 minute white flowers, which are succeeded by smooth fruit. 

 Thickets and low ground. June, July. Perennial. 



According to Kalm the roots dye a permanent red. 



