66 FLOWERS OF THE WOODS AND COPSES 
Like other Rubiacez, this choice flower has its leaves (these are 
sensitive to light, green in the shade, turning yellow in the strong light 
in the open) arranged in verticels or whorls, the upper whorls con- 
taining 6-9, the lower 2-6 leaves, which are lance-shaped, abrupt, with 
a point, with rough margins, the prickles directed forward. The rough 
character is indicated in the first Latin name, the scent in the second. 
The stems are more or less simple, square, erect, furrowed, and 
smooth. 
The flowers are fairly large and sweet-scented, in terminal corymbs, 
devoid of leaves, depressed, and conspicuous. The fruits are borne on 
flower-stalks, are small, roughly hairy, with hooked hairs which catch 
in the wool of animals and are spine-like in character. 
Woodruff is usually not more than 1 foot high. The flowers begin 
to scent the woods in May continuing right up to June. It is a 
perennial herbaceous plant propagated by division. 
The flowers resemble those of A. cynanchzca (Squinancy Wort), in 
the floral arrangement and the length of the tube. Woodruff is visited 
by the hive bee, as well as by beetles, flies, and moths. Being con- 
spicuous and sweet-smelling its sylvan habitat is thus counteracted by 
other advantages. 
The fruits are roughly hairy, and dispersed by animals, or fall 
around the parent plant. 
This is a woodland plant, and a humus-loving plant growing in 
humus soil, of which there is a thick covering in the form of mould 
in most woods. 
The plant is infested by Pevonospora calotheca, Pseudopeziza re- 
panda, Puccinia galrz. 
The moths Speckled Footman (Zusydice cribrum), Flame (Crdaria 
vubrdata) feed upon it. 
Asperula, Dodoneus, is from the Latin asper, rough, and the 
second name (Latin) refers to its smell. The latter part of the name 
Woodruff is supposed to represent a root meaning fragrant. The plant 
is called Sweet Grass, Scented or Sweet Hair-hoof, Hay Plant, Mug- 
wet, Petty Mugwet, Rock-wood, Star Grass, Woodrip, Woodrowe, 
Woodruff. The name Star Grass is applied on account of the whorled 
leaves. 
It was used for decorating churches on St. Barnabas’s Day. It 
was said to have formed the Virgin’s bed. The name was written 
and spelt as a couplet— 
woodde 
rowffe, 
