56 CLASS IV. ORDER I. 



Syn. Galium boreale. Pursh. 



The stem of this species is erect, square, and perfectly smooth. 

 Leaves narrow lanceolate, acute, the margin rough and often 

 revolute. Flowers numerous, white, in a terminal panicle with 

 trichotomous branches. Fruit covered with minute bristles. — 

 Woods. — July, August. — Perennial. 



It approaches very near to G. boreale of Europe, and may per- 

 haps be a variety. But on comparing it wilh specimens from 

 England and Germany, I find it constantly differs in the smooth- 

 ness of its stem, and its narrower, longer, and more acute 

 leaves. 



Galium tinctorium. L. Dyers Cleavers. 



Leaves linear, those of the stem in sixes, of the 

 branches in fours; stem flaccid; pedttncles two 

 flowered; fruit smooth. L. 



A weak, branching plant, rough with reflexed prickles. Leaves 

 linear-lanceolate, obtuse, whorled, the larger ones in sixes, smaller 

 ones in fours. Peduncles very small, supporting minute while 

 flowers, which are succeeded by smooth fruit. — Thickets and 

 low ground. — June, July. — Perennial. 



According to Kalm the roots dye a permanent red. 



*Galium obtusum. Obtuse Galium. 



G. caule Icevi, procimibente ; folils qitaiernis, oblance- 



olatis, oblusis, margine nervoque asprellis fructii Imvi. 



Stem smooth, procumbent ; leaves in fours, oblan- 

 ceolate, obtuse, rough on the edge and midrib ; fruit 

 smooth. 



Stem slender, diffuse, much branched, quadrangular, entirely 

 smooth. Leaves universally in fours, linear-lanceolate, very 

 obtuse, a little rough at the midrib and margin. Peduncles 

 slender, three flowered. Petals acute, white. Fruit globular, 

 smooth.— On the banks of Muddy brook, Roxbury. — July. — 

 Perennial. 



I should not have added another species to this numerous 

 genus, but I find no character applying to this in the extensive 



