152 RUBIACELE. 



linear to oblong, elliptic and oblanceolate. Flowers in threes, white, very 

 minute. Dr. Hooker thinks the American, distinct from the European, plant. 



Small Bedstraw. 



3. G. tinctorium Linn. : stem diffuse, smoothish ; leaves linear, some- 

 what acute ; those of the stem in sixes ; of the branches in fours ; pedun- 

 cles terminal, elongated, mostly 3-flowered ; corolla 4-parted. G. trifidum 

 var. tinctoriu/m Torr. fy Gr. 



Wet woods. Can. to Car. June Aug. 1\.. Stem weak, branching. Leaves 

 very narrow. Corotta white, mostly 4-cleft. Used as a red dye. 



^ Dyer's Bedstraw. 



4. G. asprellum Mich. : stem diffuse, very branching, the angles re- 

 trosely aculeate ; leaves in sixes, fives and fours, elliptical or lanceolate, the 

 midrib and margins aculeate-hispid ; branches 2 3-forked ; pedicels filiform, 

 divaricate, short. G. micranthum Pursh. 



Moist places. Can. to Virg. June, July. 1].. Stem weak, 2 4 feet long, 

 often supported on other plants by its hooked prickles. Flowers numerous, 

 minute, white. Rough Bedstraw. 



*** Fruit hispid. 



5. G. Aparlne Linn. : stem weak, branching, retrosely aculeate ; leaves 

 6 8 in a whorl, linear-lanceolate, mucronate, with the midrib and margin 

 rough with reflexed prickles ; fruit large. 



Moist woods. Can. to Del. W. to Oregon. June. 0. Stem 3 4 feet long. 

 Flowers white, numerous, on axillary and terminal peduncles. Perhaps intro- 

 duced. Common Cleavers. Goose Grass. 



6. G. triflorum Mich. : stem procumbent, smoothish, the angles aculeate 

 or hispid ; leaves 5 or 6 in a whorl, narrow-elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, mucronate, slightly hispid or scabrous on the margin and mid- 

 rib ; peduncles axillary and terminal, mostly 3-flowered at the extremity. 

 G. cuspidatum Muhl. Ell. G. brachiatum Pursh. 



Moist woods. Can. to Louis. W. to Oregon and California. July, Aug. 

 1J-. Stem 1 4 feet long, with short branches. Flowers rather few, greenish- 

 white, small. A variable species. Dr. Torrey states that it gives out a vanilla- 

 like odor in drying. Sweet-scented Bedstraw. 



7. G. pitesum Ait. : stem ascending, hispid, hairy or nearly smooth ; leaves 

 4 in a whorl, oval or ovate, mucronate, ciliate and mostly hairy ; peduncles 

 elongated, dichotomous, often 3-flowered at the extremity. G. puncticulo- 

 sum Mick. G. JSermudianum Pursh. 



Dry woods. N. Y. to J^ouis. W. to Texas. June, July. Q.Stem 12 feet 

 high, mostly simple, more or less pubescent.. Flowers brownish purple. 



Hairy Bedstraw. 



8. G. cirzcezans Mich. : stem erect or ascending, nearly smooth or hairy ; 

 leaves 4 in a whorl, oval or ovate-oblong, mostly obtuse, 3-nerved, some- 

 what pubescent, ciliate on the margin and nerves ; peduncles lateral and 

 terminal, divaricate, few-flowered. G. brachiatum Muhl. G. boi'eale Walt. 



var. 1. lanceolatum Torr. N.Y. Fl. : leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceo- 

 late, rather acute G. lanceolatum Torr. FL 



var. 2. montanum Torr. <$ Gr. : dwarf; leaves obovate, nearly smooth. 



Rocky woods and mountains. Can. to Flor. W. to Miss. June, July. ty. 

 Stems usually several from one root, 10 18 inches high. Flowers purple. 

 Fruit clothed with dense white bristles. Wild Liquorice. 



