260 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



Galium (Linn.) Bed- straw. 

 Linn. CI. iv. Ord. i. 

 Name. From (gala) milk; some species are used for curdling 

 milk ; whence it is also called True-Cheese-Rennet. 



1. G. cruciatum, (With.) Cross-wort, Bedstraw-Mugwort. From 

 cruxy (Lat.) a cross, from its leaves which are always four in a 

 whorl forming a cross. Engl. Bot. t. 143. 



Locality. Hedges, borders of woods, and fields, on a chalky or 

 sandy soil, also on the banks of the canal, and Avon, P. Fl. May, 

 June. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Not uncommon in Wilts. Flowers, 

 small, about 8, on slender hairy corymbose stalks, from the axils of 

 the leaves, accompanied by two smaller ovate leaves, upon the 

 peduncle, some wanting the pistil, some 3-cleft, a few only 5- cleft 



2. G. tricorne, (With.) three horned Bed-straw. Rough fruited 

 Goose-grass, from tres, three, and cornu, a horn, in allusion to the 

 three-flowered peduncles, and reflexed fruit. Engl. Bot. t. 1641. 



Locality. In dry chalky corn-fields, and cultivated ground. A. 

 Fl. June, October, Fr. September, October. Area, 1. * * 4. 5. 



South Division. 



1. South-east District, "Fields near Downton," Dr. Maton, 

 "Nat. Hist. Wilts." 



North Division. 



4. North-west District, Corn-fields in Monkton Farley avenue, 

 cultivated fields about Rudlow and Box. " Chippenham," Dr. 

 Alexander Prior. 



5. North-east District, In plenty about Morden and Purton. 

 This species occurs but sparingly both in the Southern and 

 Northern Districts of the county. Flowering with the corn, or 

 sometimes later on the stubble, it is not unlikely to have been 

 overlooked. The whole herb of a pale yellowish green, strongly res- 

 embling the much more common " G. Aparine," and like it, ten- 

 aciously adhering to every object with which it comes in contact, 

 by means of its small, but strong prickles. It would be desirable 

 to have the distribution of this plant more accurately ascertained 

 for Wilts. 



3. G. Aparine, (Linn.) Goose-grass or Cleavers. So called from 



