130 WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
petals 5, united at the base and separating into 5 spreading, pointed lobes; stamens 5 ; carpels 2. 
Fruit of 2 round, fleshy cells, not separating from each other when ripe. Herbs with square 
stems and undivided leaves growing in a circle of 4-8 round each joint (whorls). 
Wild Madder. (Rubia peregrina, Linn.)— The only British species (as just des- 
cribed). Flowers A inch across, pale yellow; fruit a small black, 2-lobed berry; stem 1 to 
several feet in length, tough and woody, straggling; and the leaves undivided, oval and 
pointed, nearly stalkless, toothed, with each tooth ending in a bristle, green, polished, 4-6 in a 
circle round each joint. [ Plate 61. 
Rare. Not uncommon in the south-west of England, and Wales, in rocky and bushy places. 
June — August. Perennial. 
BEDSTRAW. (GALIUM, LINN.) — Flowers small, white, yellow, or pink, in terminal clusters 
(cymes or panicles). Sepals 4, entirely combined with the seedcase or with 4 minute teeth ; 
petals 4, united into a scarcely perceptible tube and separating into 4 flat, spreading, pointed 
lobes; stamens 4; carpels 2. Fruit small, round, dry, 2-celled, separating when ripe into 2 
i-seeded cases. Herbs with weak, square stems, and stalkless (sessile), undivided leaves, 4-12 in 
a circle round each joint (node). 
Northern or Cross-leaved Bedstraw. (Galium boreale, Linn.)— As just described. 
The flowers white, star-like, in leafy, oblong clusters (panicles) ; the fruit rough with hooked 
bristles, separating when ripe into 2 dry, i-seeded cases; the stem 8-18 inches high, branched, 
tough, and square ; and the leaves lance-shaped or narrower, with 3 ribs from base to tip, 
stalkless, 4 in a circle round each joint (node). 
Not common. On moist rocks, especially in mountain districts in north Wales, and the north 
of England, and Scotland. July — August. Perennial. 
Mugwort or Crosswort. (Galium Crueiata, Scop.)— Flowers pale yellow, in little 
stalked clusters in the axils of the leaves, forming circles round the stem inside the leaves. [As 
just described in the genus Galium.] Fruit smooth, almost fleshy, separating when ripe into 2 
small, i-seeded cases. Stems 6-18 inches long, weak, square, very hairy; with oval stalkless 
leaves, soft and downy, having 3 ribs, 4 in a circle round each joint (node). [Plate 61. 
Very common. By the sides of cultivated fields and on banks. May — June. Perennial. 
Yellow or Lady’s Bedstraw. (Galium verum, Linn.) — Flowers numerous, bright 
yellow, in oblong, compact clusters. [As just described in the genus Galium.] Fruit, smooth, 
dry, separated into 2 very small, i-seeded, dark-brown cases. Stems 6 inches to 2 feet long, erect 
or prostrate, much branched, and wiry ; with very narrow, almost thread-like, stalkless leaves, 
abruptly pointed, 6-8 in a circle round each joint (node). [Plate 61. 
Common, especially in sandy soil. Pastures and dry banks. June — September. Perennial. 
Common Hedge Bedstraw. (Galium Mollugo, Linn.) — Flowers white, star-like, in 
loose clusters. [As just described in the genus Galium.] Fruit dry, smooth or slightly roughened, 
separating when ripe into 2 small, i-seeded cases. Stems 1-2 feet high, square, thickened at the 
joints ; with oblong, stalkless leaves, with bristly margins, usually 8 in a circle round each joint (node). 
Common. On banks and roadsides. July — August. Perennial. 
Upright Bedstraw. (Galium ereetum, Huds.) — A very similar species to the last, 
with larger fruits, stems not thickened at the joints (nodes) ; and narrower, lanced-shaped leaves. 
Rare. On banks and roadsides. June — September. Perennial. 
Wall Bedstraw. (Galium anglicum, Huds.) — Another similar species to the Common 
Hedge Bedstraw (Galium Mollugo), but an annual, and smaller in all ways, the flowers being 
