MADDER FAMILY. Rubiaceae. 



burlike, in pairs, and covered with short, hooked bristles 



which facilitate transportation. 2-5 feet long. Shady 



thickets and roadsides. Me., south, and west to S. Dak., 



Kan., and Tex., The following Galiums are perennials. 



„,..... . A smooth or slightlv downy species with 



Wild Liquorice . i * ^.i i i ^ 



Galium broad, ovate leaves ni fours, three-ribbed, 



circoi.zans and about an inch long. The greenish 



Greenish white white flowers, with four pointed lobes 

 May-July hairy on the outside, are borne on stalks 



usually forked but once. 1-2 feet high. Common in 

 rich dry woods. Me., south, west to Minn., and Tex. 



A smooth species with acute lance- 

 Northern shaped or narrower leaves almost smooth 

 Bedstraw , -, r^,, . , . 

 Gidiv^i boreale ^^ the edge. The numerous tmy white 



flowers set in close clusters. 15-30 inches 

 high. Near streams, among rocks. Me., south to N. 

 J., and west to S. Dak., Neb., and Cal. 

 S^gll A very small, delicate, variable species, 



Bedstraw often much entangled among bushes. The 



Galium minute stem-prickles are scarcely visible. 



trifidum jj^^ linear blunt-tipped or wedge-shaped, 



deep green leaves, ^ inch long, set in fours. The minutG 

 usually three-lobed, white flowers, with three stamens, 

 are in tiny thin clusters. 6-18 inches high. Common 

 in sphagnum bogs and wet woodlands everywhere. 



A very common, weak, and reclining 

 Bedstraw species, with the usual square stem set 



Galium with backward-hooked prickles. The light 



asprellum green leaves slightly blunt lance-shaped. 



White ^j^^ prickly-rough on edge and rib, are set 



June-August . . % < T t-i f 4-- i 4. 



in circles of 4-6. The profuse tmy white 



flowers are in thin, aiiy, terminal clusters ; they are pe- 

 culiarly, perhaps unpleasantly, odorous. 2-6 feet long. 

 In damp soil. Me., south to N. Car., west to Neb. 

 Sweet=scented ^ similar species with the flowers usu- 

 Bedstraw ally borne in clusters of three, and with 



Galium the same bristly rough stem ; the leaves 



triflorum broad lance-shaped, bright shining green, 



bristle -pointed, slightly rough-edged, and set usually in 

 sixes. The foliage fragrant after drying. 1-3 feet long. 

 Rich woodlands throughout our range; south only to Ga, 



444 



