Galium odoratum

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Rubiaceae

Genus

Galium

Life cycle

perennial

Growth rate

moderate

Height

0.15 m

Spread

0.45 m

Fertility

Self fertile, Flies, Bees, Self

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Pollinators

Flies, Bees, Self

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - raw or cooked^[21]. The leaves are coumarin-scented (like freshly mown hay), they are used as a flavouring in cooling drinks^[9][22][18] and are also added to fruit salads etc^[6][10]. The leaves are soaked in white wine to make 'Maitrank', an aromatic tonic drink that is made in Alsace^[13]. A fragrant and delicious tea is made from the green-dried leaves and flowers^[9][6][17]. Slightly wilted leaves are used, the tea has a fresh, grassy flavour^[10]. The sweet-scented flowers are eaten or used as a garnish^[6].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Sweet woodruff was widely used in herbal medicine during the Middle Ages, gaining a reputation as an external application to wounds and cuts and also taken internally in the treatment of digestive and liver problems^[20]. In current day herbalism it is valued mainly for its tonic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory affect^[16]. The leaves are antispasmodic, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative^{[22][2][12][10]}. An infusion is used in the treatment of insomnia and nervous tension, varicose veins, biliary obstruction, hepatitis and jaundice^[22][13]. The plant is harvested just before or as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use^[22]. One report says that it should be used with caution^[12] whilst another says that it is entirely safe^[22]. Excessive doses can produce dizziness and symptoms of poisoning^[17]. The dried plant contains coumarins and these act to prevent the clotting of blood - though in excessive doses it can cause internal bleeding^[16]. The plant is grown commercially as a source of coumarin, used to make an anticoagulant drug^[17]. Do not use this remedy if you are taking conventional medicine for circulatory problems or if you are pregnant^[16]. A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance that produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant dries^[13]. Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making the genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry^[13]. A homeopathic remedy made from the plant is used in the treatment of inflammation of the uterus^[13].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A red dye is obtained from the root^[4]. Soft-tan and grey-green dyes are obtained from the stems and leaves^[4]. A good ground-cover plant for growing on woodland edges or in the cool shade of shrubs^[14][10]. It spreads rapidly at the roots^[19][8][11]. It is an ideal carpeting plant for bulbs to grow through[K]. Although the fresh plant has very little aroma, as it dries it becomes very aromatic with the scent of newly-mown grass and then retains this aroma for years^[9][10]. It is used in the linen cupboard to protect from moths etc.^[20][3] It was also formerly used as a strewing herb and is an ingredient of pot-pourri^[13]. It was also hung up in bunches in the home in order to keep the rooms cool and fragrant during the summertime^[15].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche

Soil surface

Environment

Range

Northern and central Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and Siberia.

Habitat

Woodland and shady areas^[20][3] on damp calcareous and base rich soils^[5]. Often found in beech woods^[17].

Light

partial sun

Shade tolerance

permanent shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 5+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a loose moist leafy soil in some shade^[10]. Tolerates dry soils but the leaves quickly become scorched when growing in full sun^[10]. This species does not thrive in a hot climate^[10]. Prefers a moist calcareous soil^[22][2][3]. Dislikes very acid soils^[7]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 8.3. This species is very tolerant of atmospheric pollution and grows well in towns^[11]. A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c^[7]. Sweet woodruff is occasionally cultivated in the herb garden for its medicinal and other uses. The dried foliage has the sweet scent of newly mown hay^[15]. A very ornamental plant^[1] but it spreads rapidly^[19] and can be invasive^[10]. However, this is rarely to the detriment of other plants since these are normally able to grow through it^[10]. It does no harm to any plants more than 60cm tall^[11].

Related plants

• Galium aparineGoosegrass
• Galium borealeNorthern Bedstraw
• Galium gracile
• Galium mollugoHedge Bedstraw

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩

2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

   ↩1↩2

3. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

   ↩1↩2↩3

4. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

   ↩1↩2

5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

   ↩

6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

   ↩1↩2↩3

7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

   ↩1↩2

8. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

   ↩

9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

   ↩1↩2↩3

10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13

11. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2↩3

12. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

13. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

14. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩

15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

16. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

17. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

18. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

19. Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-900629-78-9

    ↩1↩2

20. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

21. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

22. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6