BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
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cultivated for the sake of its root, which was used for dyeing both red and yellow. Ray adds, that the flowers 
were often distilled, and that they furnished a very agreeable liqueur. The plant is a perennial, and it flowers in 
July and August. 
4.—THE HEDGE BED-STRAW, OR WHIP-TONGUE. (Galium Mollugo, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1673 ; 2nd ed., t. 214; and our fig. 4, bristle-pointed, rough-edged. Flowers in loose spreading panicles, 
in PI. 39. Corolla thick-tipped. Fruit smooth, globular. (Smith.) 
Specific Character.— Leaves eight in a whorl, elliptical, bluntish, 
Description, &c.— This plant, which is often called the Great Hedge Bed-straw, well deserves that name, 
because it frequently grows to the height of three or four feet; while some of the other species of the genus do 
not exceed as many inches. The flowers also of G. Mollugo are longer and more conspicuous than those of most 
of the other species, and they are produced in great abundance. The leaves are in whorls of eight each, and 
they are bordered with fine hooked bristles, which, when the leaf is put into the mouth, produce such an 
unpleasant effect on the palate as to give rise to the popular English name of Whip-tongue. The plant is 
common in every part of England, and it spreads rapidly on account of its creeping root. It is a perennial, and 
flowers in July and August. 
There are numerous other species of Galium in this division, all of which have very small flowers and slightly 
rough leaves. They are, however, so small and insignificant, that it does not appear necessary to describe them 
in detail. 
* * Fruit bristly. 
GOOSE-GRASS, OR CLEAVERS. (G. Aparine, Lin.) 
This is one of the best-known of all the English weeds, as it is scarcely possible to gather wild flow’ers in 
a hedge without having the clothes covered with either the leaves or fruit of this species. Dogs, pai’ticularly if 
they have long hair, are often seen carrying away the seed-vessels upon their backs. The plant is an annual, 
and it flowers all the summer. 
THE CROSS-LEAVED BED-STRAW. (G. boreale, Lin.) 
This is a very pretty little plant; easily distinguished by its leaves, which are much longer than those of 
most of the other species, and, being only four in a whorl, form a decided cross. The species is only found in the 
mountainous parts of the north of England and Scotland ; and it produces its masses of milk-white flowers in 
July. The roots, which are long and slender, often appear above the surface of the ground ; and, as they are 
deeply tinged with red, they have not only a singular appearance, but they are said to communicate their colour 
to the wool of the sheep that feed on them. 
GENUS II. 
THE WOODRUFF. (Asperula, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Corolla funnel-shaped, with three or four segments. Fruit dry, not crowned by the calyx. (Lindley.) 
Description, &c.—T he plants belonging to this genus are well-known for their fragrance. The name of 
Asperula alludes to the roughness of the leaves of some of the species. 
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