CL^SS IV. ORSKHI.J 



GALIUM. 181 



Perennial; flowering in July and August. 



The whole plant is of a pale-green colour, which it retains after 

 drying. This circumstance, together with the shape of the leaf, readily 

 distinguish it from the preceding species, although specimens occa- 

 sionally occur with characters intermediate between the two. 



5. G. saxa'tile, Linn. (Fig. 226.) smooth Heath Bed-straw. Leaves 

 six in a whorl, obovate, obtuse, with a bristle point ; stem smooth, 

 prostrate, much branched. 



English Botany, t. 815.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 201.— Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 129. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 66. 



Root with long, creeping underground stems. Stems smooth, much 

 branched, procumbent and slender at the base, varying considerably in 

 length and luxuriance, according to the situation of their growth, bear- 

 ing numerous whorls of six obovate or oblong, obtuse, or shortly acute 

 leaves, the midrib terminating in a short rigid bristle ; the margins 

 smooth, or beset with prickles pointing towards the apex, otherwise 

 smooth and shining like the stem. Inflorescence in terminal, spread- 

 ing, three-branched panicles, bearing an abundance of small white 

 flowers. Fruit small : when young, crowned with the capitate stigma 

 upon a rather long style, of a reddish hue, and minutely dotted ; when 

 ripe, covered with minute prominent granulations. 



Habitat. — Heaths, moors, and mountainous districts ; abundant. 



Perennial ; flowering from June to September. 



This plant often grows abundantly on heaths and moors, producing 

 so great a profusion of its milk-white flowers, as completely to clothe 

 the surface ; and during the summer months, it may frequently be 

 observed to hang in thick festoons from the overhanging rock or moun- 

 tain's craggy side. 



6. G. erec'tum, Hudson, (Fig. 227.) upright Bed-straw. Leaves 

 about eight in a whorl, lanceolate, bristle-pointed, their margins 

 with prickles pointing forward; panicle much branched; stem 

 smooth, weak ; segments of the corolla taper-pointed, 



English Botany, t. 2067.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 202.— Lindley, 

 Synopsis, p. 129. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 66. 



/3. Leaves downy beneath. — Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 66. 



Root with creeping underground stems. Stem erect, much branched, 

 square, with rather acute angles, pale, smooth [somewhat hairy beneath 

 the whorls — Sinith'], spreading, from one to two feet high. Leaves 

 about eigjit in a whorl, lanceolate, acute, with a discoloured point ter- 

 minated by a bristle, quite smooth, and reticulated with veins; the 

 margins slightly reflexed and rough, with pale prickles in a single or 

 mostly double jpw all pointing forwards ; the lower leaves, and some- 

 limes those of the branches, are somewhat ovate, and all are of a pale 

 glaucous hue, especially on the under side. InfloresQcnce in coinpounS 



