THE GOOSE-GRASS. 253 



GOOSE-GRASS, CLEAVERS, OR BEDSTRAW. 

 Gdlium. 



Welsh, Brinwydd, Gwendron, Gwenwlydd ; (G. aparine), Llys 

 yr Nidi ; (G. verum}, Llys y cywen.- French, Muguet. 

 German, Kleberig, Klebekraut. 



LINNJSAN. NATURAL. 



Tetrandria. Corolliflorce. 



Monogynia. Rubiacece. 



VERY nearly relating to the madder, and possessing 

 the same subtle quality of imparting its colour to 

 the bones of animals feeding on it, is the bedstraw, 

 or cleavers, the goose-grass of little children, the 



" Pale gander-grass " 



of Izaac Walton, the properties of which, as a red 

 dye, are little, if at all, inferior to its more-valued 

 congener.* In the island of Jura it is largely 

 employed for this purpose. This quality, though 

 extending to all the galiums, is more especially 

 possessed by the large yellow bedstraw (G. verum). 

 The galiums are used either alone or with salt and 

 nettle-juice, for the purpose of curdling milk, which 

 gives rise to their old name " cheese rening," and 

 also to the botanical galium, which is derived from 

 the Greek word yaXa (milk.) 



* Curtis considers the G. verum even superior to the madder. 



