Common Woodruff

Images ©:
©Asperula conferta - Giorgio De Nola CC2.5, Asperula conferta -Russel Best CC2.5

Asperula conferta


Low, spreading herb. Flowers tiny, white and star-shaped, held in groups at the end of stems. Flowers spring-summer. Thin linear leaves small and narrow, in whorls of 5-6 leaves, hairless except along the mid-rib, and with sharp tip (but not prickly).


Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Distinctive Features

Tiny white star-shaped flowers. Square stems.

Biology

Perennial. Usually grows in moist, well drained soils.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Sep-Dec

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Gentianales
Family
Rubiaceae
Genus
Asperula
Species
conferta

From the Latin asper = rough, referring to the rough stems in most species (but not this one). Has male and female flowers, which occur on separate plants.


Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Similar to Prickly Woodruff but leaves have pointed but not prickly tips, and stems not densely hairy.

Native Status
Native