sweet woodruff
(Galium odoratum)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Use • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | NNA - Not applicable SNA - Not applicable |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Sweet woodruff is an erect, 6″ to 12″ tall, perennial forb that rises on numerous stems from a creeping rhizome. The leaves and stem have a scent of newly-mown hay. The stems are more or less erect. They can be up to 20″ long, but longer stems will recline somewhat and be no more than 12″ in height. They are slender, 4-angled, hollow, and branched. They are rough with stiff, downward-pointing hairs just below the nodes, but are otherwise hairless. They do not have hooked hairs. Leaf nodes are evenly spaced and are about 1⅜″ apart. The leaves are stalkless. They are mostly in whorls of 8, though there may be 6 to 10 leaves in a whorl. The blades are inversely lance-shaped or narrowly elliptic, widest at or just above the middle. They are ⅝″ to 2″long, and ⅛″ to ½″ wide. They have a single prominent vein, the midrib, running from the base to the tip. They are evenly tapered to the tip and to the base. There is a short, sharp, abrupt point (mucro) at the tip. The upper surface is green and hairless. The lower surface is similarly colored and sometimes has rough, forward-pointing hairs along the midrib, but is otherwise hairless. The margins are untoothed and have a fringe of forward-pointing hairs. The leaves do not have hooked hairs. The inflorescence is a showy, loose, branched cluster (cyme) of several stalked flowers at the end of the stem and branches. The flowers are ⅛″ to 3 ⁄16″ long and ⅛″ to ¼″ wide. There are 4 white petals fused at the base into a short tube then separated into 4 short lobes with pointed tips. There are 4 stamens with white filaments and brownish anthers, and 2 styles. There are 2 carpels at the base of the flower. The carpels are light green, densely hairy, and joined together. They do not have hooked hairs. The fruit is a ball-shaped, 1-seeded capsule, joined in pairs. It is covered with hooked bristles. |
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Height |
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6″ to 12″ |
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Flower Color |
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White |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Moderate moisture to wet. Woods. Full or partial shade. |
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Ecology |
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Flowering |
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May to June |
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Pests and Diseases |
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Use |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 3/24/2023 | ||||
Nativity |
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Native to Asia and Europe. Introduced and cultivated; escaped cultivation. |
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Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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| Kingdom | Plantae (green algae and land plants) | ||
| Subkingdom | Viridiplantae (green plants) | ||
| Infrakingdom | Streptophyta (land plants and green algae) | ||
| Superdivision | Embryophyta (land plants) | ||
| Division | Tracheophyta (vascular plants) | ||
| Subdivision | Spermatophytina (seed plants) | ||
| Class | Magnoliopsida (flowering plants) | ||
| Superorder | Asteranae | ||
Order |
Gentianales (gentians, dogbanes, madders, and allies) | ||
Family |
Rubiaceae (madder) | ||
| Subfamily | Rubioideae | ||
| Tribe | Rubieae | ||
Genus |
Galium (bedstraws) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Asperula odorata |
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Common Names |
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sweet woodruff sweetscented bedstraw woodruff |
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Glossary
Carpel
The female reproductive organ of a flower, consisting of an ovary, styles, and stigmas.
Cyme
A branched, flat-topped or convex flower cluster in which the terminal flower opens first and the outermost flowers open last.
Rhizome
A horizontal, usually underground stem. It serves as a reproductive structure, producing roots below and shoots above at the nodes.
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Other Videos |
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| Sweet Woodruff (Galium Odoratum) - 2012-05-14 W3stlander |
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About
Published on May 21, 2012 Galium odoratum is a perennial plant in the family Rubiaceae. Its vernacular names include woodruff, sweet woodruff, and wild baby's breath; master of the woods. ----------------- Lievevrouwebedstro (Galium odoratum, synoniem Asperula odorata) is een overblijvende, winterharde, kruidachtige plant uit de sterbladigenfamilie (Rubiaceae). |
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| Galium odoratum - Waldmeister, Woodruff Frau-Doktor |
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About
Published on Apr 22, 2014 Der Waldmeister (Galium odoratum) ist auch als Wohlriechendes Labkraut bekannt und bei uns heimisch. Wie auch der Kaffee (Coffea) zählt er zur Familie der Rötegewächse. Weitere Infos: http://winterharte-stauden.com/galium-odoratum-waldmeister/ Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a member of the Rubiaceae family. The native to Europe herb is related to the coffee shrubs. |
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| Flori albe de galium odoratum sau vinarita Adrian Manolache |
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About
Published on Apr 28, 2014 |
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