Asperula 
ODORATA. 
Woodruff 
ASPERULA Lin. Gen. PI. Tetr andria Monogynia. 
Cor. i -petala, infundibulifbrmis. Semina 2, globofa. 
Raii Syn. Gen. 12. Herbie stellatae. 
ASPERULA odorata foliis odonis lanceolatis, florum fafciculis pedunculatis. Lin. Syji. V egetab. p. 125. 
Sp. PL p. 150. 
ASPERULA caule erefto, foliis odonis; petiolis ramofis eredis, feminibus hirfutis. Haller. Hifl. n. 728. 
GALIUM odoratum. Scopoli FI. Cam. 11. 1 58. 
ASPERULA feu Rubeola montana odora. Batik. Pin. 334. 
ASPE'.ULA. Ger. emac. 966. 
ASPERULA aut Afpergula odorata. Parkins. 563. Raii Syn. p. 225. Woodroof or Woodruffe. 
HudJ'on FI. Angl. ed. 2. p. 66. Lightfoot FI. Scot. p. 1 15. Oeder FI. Dan. t. 562. 
RADIX perennis, tenuis, articulatus, flavefcens, paulo 
infra terram repens, et plurimas fibrillas di- 
mittens. 
CAULIS eredus, fpithamsus, plerumque fimplex, tetra- 
gonus, quadrifulcatus, glaber. 
FOLIA plerumque odona, verticillata, lanceolata, 
mucronata, glabra, fpinulis ciliata, fg. 1. 
CORYMBUS terminalis, nudus, eredus. 
CALYX nullus. 
COROLLA monopetala, alba, infundibulifprmis. Tubus 
brevis, germini infidens. Limbus quadripar- 
titus, tubo longior, laciniis lanceolatis, paten- 
tibus, crafilufeulis.ySg'. 2. 
STAMINA: Filamenta quatuor, ad apicem tubi. 
breviffima, alba. Antiier^e albidre, longitu- 
dine filamentorum, oblongas, fublineares, in- 
cumbentes. Jig. 3. 
PISTILLUM: Germen inferum, viride, fubrotundum, 
utrinque compreflum, obfolete didymum, hif- 
pidum. Stylus filiformis, albus, bifidus, 
antheris brevior. Stigmata duo, globofa, 
inaequalia, fg. 4, 5, 6. 
NECT ARIUM: Glandula parva bafin flyli cingens. 
PERICARPIUM : Bacae duae, ficcae, globofie, coalitae, 
liiCpidae. fg. 7. 
SEMINA folitaria, iiibrotunda, magna, fg. 8. 
tROOT perennial, flender, jointed, of a yellowilh colour, 
I creeping a little below the furface of the earth, 
$ and fending down numerous fmall fibres. 
I STALK uprighr, about a fpan in height, for the moft 
I part perfedly Ample, four-cornered, with a 
I groove on each fide, and fmooth. 
I LEAVES growing generally eight together in a whirl, 
lanceolate, terminating in a fmall point, fmooth 
I and edged with fmall fpines. fg. 1. 
I CORYMBUS terminal, naked, and upright. 
I CALYX wanting. 
t COROLLA monopetalous, white, funnel-fhaped. Tube 
fhort, fitting on the germen. Limb divided 
% into four fegments, longer than the tube, feg- 
ments lanceolate, fpreading, thickifh. fg. 2. 
I STAMINA: four Filaments at the top of the tube, 
t very fhort and white. Anthers whitilh, the 
I length of the filaments, oblong, fomewhat 
linear and incumbent, fg. 3. 
I PISTILLUM: Germen placed beneath the corolla, of 
% a green colour, roundilh, flattened on both 
I fides, obfcurely double, and hifpid. Style 
I filiform, white, bifid, fhorter than the an- 
thers. Stigmata two, globular and une- 
I - qual- fig- 4, 5, 6 - 
$ NECTARY : a lmall Gland furrounding the bafe of the 
I % le - 
t SEED-VESSEL : two, dry, round, hifpid berries united 
I together, fig. 7. 
I SEEDS Angle, large and roundilh. fg. 8. 
The flowers of Woodruff have an agreeable fmell, and the whole plant, when dried, diffufes an odour like that 
of the fweet-fcented Vernal-grajs. Kept among cloaths, it not only imparts to them an agreeable perfume, but, 
according to Linnjeus, preferves them from infe&s. 
Ray informs us, that it gives its flavour to vinous liquors ; and that the Germans ufe it much for that purpofe. 
As a medicinal plant, it is fuppofed to attenuate vifcid humours, and {Lengthen the tone of the Bowels, whence 
it is recommended in obftru&ions of the liver and biliary dudts, and by fome in Epilepfies and Palfies : modern 
practice has neverthelefs rejected it. 
It is common in the woods about London , efpecially Charlton Wood ; and flowers in May and June. 
