122 FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE RIVIERA 



Q. rubrum L. Plant i ft. high, green, and not turning black on drying, 

 with more slender stock and stems. Leaves in whorls of 6-12 (usually 8), linear- 

 lanceolate, mucronate, with prominent dorsal nerve. Flowers dark red, pinkish, 

 or greenish-white, numerous, in a diffuse, spreading panicle. Corolla lobes 

 apiculate. Fruit glabrous. 



Dry woods and hill-sides in the Maritime Alps. June-July. 



Represented in the Var by the sub-species Q. obliquum Vill. which has 

 many varieties found in the district. It is a smaller plant, more glabrous at the 

 base, with flowers usually yellowish-white. 



Q. MollugO L. Hedge Bedstraw. Perhaps the commonest sub-species of 

 this variable plant is Q. elatum Thuill. Branches short and spreading ; leaves 

 obovate or oblong-lanceolate, in whorls of 6-8, somewhat transparent, mucronate. 

 Q. erectum Huds. is a stronger, stiffer plant, leaves narrower, lanceolate or 

 linear-lanceolate, not transparent, more mucronate and with distinct midrib ; 

 branches of panicle more upright ; pedicels less divaricate (Bicknell). Other 

 sub-species are Q. Gerard! Vill., and according to Rouy, Albert, and Jahandiez 

 Q. corrudrefolium Vill. and Q. cinereum All. (ashy-grey and glaucous). 

 But these are considered distinct species by most authorities, and we prefer to 

 treat them as such. 



They grow in dry and often stony places whereas the true Q. MollugO and 

 Q. elatum are found in hedges and by streams (May-September). Q. erectum 

 is a limestone plant. 



Q. corrudajfolium Vill. = G. lucidum All. A stiff plant, somewhat 

 woody at the base ; leaves narrow and shining, in whorls of 6-8, with strongly 

 marked midrib. Pedicels short, erect. Flowers yellowish-white, in a narrow 

 panicle. 



Arid places on the littoral and lower mountains. May -June. 



G. cinereum All. A very glaucous, ash-grey plant, much resembling 

 Asperula galioides, with perfectly smooth stem, and large spreading panicles 

 of pure white flowers. 



Arid hill-sides, borders of woods, etc., especially in the lower mountains. 

 June-July. 



G. verum L. Yellow Bedstraw. Leaves narrow-linear, in whorls of 8-12, 

 stem erect or spreading 1-2 ft. high. Flowers bright yeltow, sweet scented, 

 numerous, in a long narrow panicle. Fruit small, glabrous and smooth. 



Borders of fields and grassy places, common from sea-level to the mountains 

 and very variable. April-September. 



G. aristatum L. A close ally of G. silvaticum L. Leaves linear- 

 lanceolate, large, glabrous and glaucous, in whorls of 6-8. Flowers rather large, 

 pure white. Fruit glabrous. 



Mountain woods. June-August. 



G. Jordan! Loret et Barr. and G. umbeHatum Lamk., both very variable 

 and considered by Rouy sub-species of his G. commune = G. silvestre Poll., 

 occur on the littoral. G. pusillum L. grows in the mountains but descends 

 considerably in the south. It is a small green shining plant, densely tufted, 

 with rather rigid stems and short internodes. Leaves in whorls of 6 or 7, linear, 

 aristate, with marked dorsal nerve. Flowers white, in short corymbs. 



ASPERULA L. 



A. arvensis. L. Annual, a foot high. Lower leaves in whorls of 4, 

 obovate, the others in whorls of 6-8, linear obtuse. Flowers blue, small, in 

 terminal heads with long ciliate bracts. 



Cultivated places. April-June. 



A. taurina L. Plant a foot high, robust. Leaves in whorls of 4, large, 

 elliptic lanceolate, acuminate. Flowers white, large, scented, in terminal heads, 

 witn an involucre of leafy bracts. 



Mountain woods in the Maritime Alps, local. April- May. 



