Asperula
(from asper, rough; in allusion to the leaves). Woodruff. ORD. Rubiaceae. Hardy herbs, rarely small shrubs. Flowers terminal and axillary, in fascicles. Leaves opposite, with one, two, or three stipulas on each side; they are therefore called four to eight in a whorl, but between the uppermost leaves there are no stipulas. Stems and branches usually tetragonal. Most of the species are very pretty when in flower, and are, therefore, well adapted for borders, rockwork, and shady places, in almost any garden soil. Propagated by divisions of the roots during spring and early summer. Herbaceous perennials, except where otherwise stated.
A. azurea-setosa (blue-bristly). A synonym of A. orientalis.
A. calabrica (Calabrian). A synonym of Putoria calabrica.
A. cynanchica (Cynanche-like). fl. on erect branches, forming a fastigiate corymb, white or bluish-coloured, elegantly marked with red lines, or sometimes pure white. Summer. l. four in a whorl; floral ones lanceolate-linear, acuminately awned; lower ones small, oblong, upper ones opposite. Plant glabrous, erectish. h. 9in. to 12in. England.
A. hirta (hairy). fl. white at first, changing to pink, with oblong divisions. July and August. l. usually six in a whorl, four towards the upper part, linear, hairy, deep green. h. 3in. Pyrenees, 1817. A charming but rare little alpine, thriving best in a rather damp position on the rockery.
A. longiflora (long-flowered).* fl. whitish, yellowish inside, and reddish outside; tube of corolla elongated; fascicles terminal, pedunculate; bracteas small, subulate. Summer. l. four in a whorl, linear; lower ones small, obovate; upper ones opposite. Stems weak, numerous, from the same neck, erectish, glabrous. h. 6in. Hungary, 1821.
A. montana (mountain).* fl., corollas pink, four-cleft, scabrous externally; in fascicles. June, July. l. linear; lower ones six in a whorl; middle ones four; upper ones opposite; floral leaves linear. Stem weak, glabrous. h. 6in. to 8in. Hungary, 1801.
A. odorata (sweet-scented).* Sweet Woodruff. fl. snowy white; corymbs terminal, pedunculate, usually trifid, each division bearing about four flowers. May, June. l. eight in a whorl, lanceolate, smooth, with serrulately scabrous edges. Stems tetragonal, simple, erect, or ascending. h. 6in. to 12in. Britain. This very pretty little plant is scentless when fresh, but, when dried, it diffuses an odour like that of spring grass; and when kept among clothes, it not only imparts an agreeable perfume to them, but preserves them from insects.
A. orientalis (Oriental).* fl. sky-blue, in terminal heads; bracts of involucre shorter than the flowers. Summer. l. lanceolate, bristly, about eight in a whorl. h. 1ft. Caucasus, 1867. A charming little, profuse-blossoming, hardy annual, bearing clusters of fragrant flowers, admirably adapted for bouquet-making. SYN. A. azurea-setosa.
A. taurina (bull). fl., corollas white, elongated; corymbs pedunculate, axillary, fasciculately umbellate, involucrated; bracteas ciliated. April to June. l. four in a whorl, ovate-lanceolate, three-nerved, with finely ciliated margins. Plant smoothish, erect. h. 1ft. South Europe. 1739.
A. tinctoria (Dyers). fl. white, reddish on the outside; usually trifid. June. l. linear; lower ones six in a whorl; middle ones four; and the uppermost ones opposite; floral leaves ovate. Plant procumbent, unless supported. Stem 1ft. to 2ft. long, purplish. Europe, 1764.