Rubin.-] XL. STELLAT2E. 211 



genus Relbunium) being intermediate between the two genera as usually 

 limited. 



1. R. peregrina, Linn. (fig. 470). Wild M. — A straggling herb, of 

 a shining green, sometimes very dwarf, sometimes trailing over bushes 

 and hedges to the length of several feet, clinging by means of short re- 

 curved prickles on the edges and midribs of the leaves, and sometimes 

 on the angles of the stem. Eootstock and sometimes also the base of 

 the stem perennial and creeping. Leaves 4 or 6 in the whorl, ovate- 

 oblong or lanceolate, 1 to 1J inches long, on very short stalks or nearly 

 sessile. Flowers small, greenish, in loose axillary or terminal panicles 

 rather longer than the leaves. Corolla usually 3-lobed. Fruit a small 

 black 2-lobed berry. 



In dry woods, and stony places, in western and southern Europe, and 

 eastward to the Caucasus, less frequent in northern France and Ger- 

 many. In Britain scarcely found beyond the south-western counties of 

 England, and the coast of South Wales, and Ireland. Fl. all summer. 



The R. tinctoria, or dyers' Madder, extensively cultivated in southern 

 Europe for the scarlet dye furnished by its roots, differs but very slightly 

 from R. peregrina, and may be a mere variety. 



II. GALIUM. GALIUM. 



Herbs, with weak, quadrangular stems, sessile leaves, in whorls of 4, 

 6, or 8, and small white, yellow, or (in exotic species) red flowers, in 

 axillary or terminal trichotomous cymes or panicles, sometimes reduced 

 to small clusters. Calyx completely combined with the ovary, without 

 any visible border. Corolla rotate, the tube scarcely perceptible, with 

 4 spreading lobes. Fruit small, dry, 2-lobed, with 1 seed in each lobe. 



An extensive and natural genus, spread over the whole of the 

 temperate regions of the New as well as of the Old World, especially 

 abundant in Europe and northern Asia, penetrating also into the 

 tropics, but there chiefly confined to mountain districts. 



Flowers yellow. 

 Leaves 4 in each whorl, ovate. Cymes axillary, shorter 



than the leaves 1. G. Cruciata. 



Leaves 6 or 8 in each whorl, linear. Panicles terminal . 2. G. verum. 

 Flowers white. 

 Leaves in fours. 



Fruit hairy 8. G. boreale. 



Fruit glabrous. 

 Leaves ovate or lanceolate, very shining, and prickly at 



edge Rubia peregrina. 



Leaves linear, smooth or rough, but not prickly. 



Flowers on slender pedicels. Corolla small and 



rotate . . . 3. G. palustre. 



Flowers nearly sessile, in little clusters. Corolla 



funnel-shaped Asperula cynanchica. 



Leaves 6 or 8 in each whorl. 

 Perennials. Stems smooth or rough on the angles. 



Fruit covered with long hairs Asperula odorata. 



Fruit small, smooth, and slightly granulated. 

 Lobes of the corolla ending in a fine point. Stems 



usually 1 to 2 feet, and rather firm at the base . 6. G. Mollugo. 

 Lobes of the corolla scarcely pointed. Stems short, 

 or very slender. 

 Leaves 4 or 6, very obtuse 3. G. palustre. 



