276 THE STELLATE TEIBE. 



6. Hedge Galium. Galium Mollugo, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1673.) 



VeiT near the heath G., but on a inucli larger soale. Stems, from a 

 perennial stock, 1 to 2 or 3 feet long, smooth and shining, and more or less 

 branched. Leaves usually 8 in a whorl, Tarrmg from obovate to oblong or 

 linear, more or less rough on the edges, and always terminated by a Uttle 

 point. Flowers white and numerous, in large terminal panicles. Corolla 

 varying from 1 to 2 lines in diameter, each lobe bearing a httle point, 

 sometimes rather long, sometimes scarcely prominent. Fruit small and 

 smooth, or slightly granulated. 



In hedges, tliickets, and rich pastures, widely spread over Europe and 

 ■western Asia, but neither an Arctic nor perhaps a Siberian species. Tery 

 common in England, and in some parts of Ireland, but extends only into 

 the south -eastern counties of Scotland. Fl. summer. In shady situations 

 and rich soils the stems are very stragghng, swollen above each node, with 

 broader leaves, and sjireading panicles. This is considered by many botanists 

 as the only true G. MoJlugo. In drier, more open situations, the stem is 

 more erect, the leaves nan-ower, the panicles closer, and more oblong, and 

 the points of the corolla more prominent. This form is often described 

 as one or more distinct species, under the names of G. erectnm (Eng. Bot. 

 t. 2067), G. cinerenm, and G. arisiatum, (the figures Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 

 2783 and 2784 from specimens probably not British). 



7. VTall Galium. Galium parisiense, Linn. 



(<?. anglicum, Eng. Bot. t. 384.) 



Somewliat resembles a veiy slender heaih G., but the root is only annual, 

 and the flowers and fruits are very much smaller. Stems about 6 inches 

 high, the branches almost fihform, spreading, and rough on the edges. 

 Panicles spreading, with filiform pedicels. Corolla white, very minute ; the 

 lobes less spreading than in most species, and not pointed. Fruits small, 

 granulated in the only variety hitherto found in Britain ; in southern Europe 

 more commonly covered with httle bristles or stiff hairs. 



In stony wastes, on old walls, etc., very common in the Mediterranean 

 region, and eastward to the Caucasus ; less abundant in central Europe, and 

 barely extending to some of the southern counties of England. Fl. summer. 

 The variety above alluded to as the only one we possess, has been distin- 

 guished as a species under the name of G. anglicum or G. divaricatum. 



8. Northern Galium. Galium boreale, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 105.) 



Eootstock creeping ; the stems more firm and erect, and less branched 

 than in the other species, from g to Ij feet high, glabrous or sUghtly hoary. 

 Leaves 4 in a whorl, lanceolate or Unear, rather firm, with 3 longitudinal 

 ribs, smooth or scarcely rough at the edges, and often an inch long. 

 Flowers numerous, in oblong terminal panicles, white, and rather larger 

 than in the hedge G., with very short, inflected points to the lobes. Fruit 

 covered with hooked hairs or bristles. 



On moist rocks, and in mountain pastures, all over northern Europe and 

 Uussiau Asia to the Arctic regions, confined to mountains in southern Eu- 

 rope and central Asia. Frequent in Scotland, northern England, Isorth 

 Wales, and Ireland. Fl. summer. 



