218 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
GALIUM.—Bep Straw. 
[Name from a Greek word, signifying milk, because one sort is used for the 
purpose of curdling milk.) . 
The stems of all the species are four-cornered, and the 
leaves in whorls; the flowers generally axillary, but 
sometimes panicled. 
G4lium vérum, Petit Muget in French, is called Bed 
Straw, from the verb to strew, strow, or straw; being 
one among a variety of odoriferous herbs, which were 
frequently used to strew beds with. The genus contains 
many indigenous species, but none are worthy of cultiva- 
tion, except G. boreale, which is upright, growing about 
two feet high, bearing innumerable minute white flow- 
ers, in terminal panicles; the stems are very much 
branched, leaves delicate and small; perennial; in flower 
in July, August, and September. It is valuable only in 
the composition of bouquets. 
GAURA. 
[Name from the Greek, for superb.} 
Gatira Lindheiméri.—This plant, which is from Texas, 
is one of the finest that we have received for many years. 
The flowers are formed by a calyx, in four divisions, col- 
ored with red, petals of a flesh-colored white, which con- 
trast agreeably with the lively color of the calyx; there 
are eight light stamens, with purple anthers. 
It flowers on numerous branches, which form a large 
panicle, and continue in blossom from June until the frost 
comes. The stems are straight, growing from two to 
three feet in height, furnished with linear leaves, forming 
an elegant, although rather a slender plant; large lanceo- 
late leaves clustered in a tuft at the base of the plant. 
It is a perennial, and should be sown in May or June, 
