254 WILD FLOWERS. 



The G. verum is the bedstraw so prettily known 

 in Scotland as the " hunder-fald/' or hundred-fold, 

 from the great number of blossoms densely crowded 

 into its panicles of yellow flowers. It is the sweetest 

 of all the genus, and was formerly much used for 

 strewing floors and laying in beds, whence, pro- 

 bably, the name of bedstraw or strewe. The leaves 

 and stem boiled with alum yield a good yellow, 

 though the root, as before-mentioned, gives a red 

 dye. According to Ray, the flowering tops distilled 

 make a pleasant and refreshing beverage, and the 

 dried plant, being astringent, is useful in cases of 

 hsemorrhage. It is one of the brightest and pret- 

 tiest little plants which decorate our driest sand- 

 banks, gaily blossoming during full three quarters 

 of the year. 



The cross-wort bedstraw (G. cruddtum), which 

 has also a yellow blossom, and abounds in hedge- 

 rows, is distinguished from the last by its whorls of 

 four leaves each, while the G- verum has its whorls 

 eight-leaved, or nearly so. This is the " galion " of 

 Northumberland. 



The next division has white flowers with smooth 

 fruit. It contains the white water bedstraw, and 

 the rough marsh (G. uliginosum\ and (G. palustre), 

 whose names bespeak their habitats in marshes, 

 rarely overflowed boggy grounds, and wet ditch sides. 

 The smooth heath bedstraw (G. saxdtile), positively 

 whitens hill sides and dry heaths in the months of 

 July and August. Most probably the least moun- 

 tain bedstraw (G. pusillum), which occurs on the 

 limestone in Cumberland, Derbyshire, and in two 



