Galium glaucum, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 27

63. G. glaucum L. , Sp. Pl. 107 (1753)

( Asperula glauca (L.) Besser , A. galioides Bieb. pro parte).

Stolons present or absent. Stems 40-80 cm, usually rounded, with 4 ridges, stout, glabrous or hairy. Leaves 20-40 x 0-5-2 mm, in whorls of (6—)8—10(—11), linear to acicular, glabrous or rarely hairy; margin weakly scabrid, with 1-2 rows of teeth, revolute to the midrib. Inflorescence ovoid, somewhat lax to dense; partial inflorescences corymbiform, usually many-flowered; pedicels usually shorter than diameter of corolla. Corolla 4-6 mm in diameter, broadly cup-shaped; tube usually much shorter than lobes. 2л = 22, 44. Forest-margins, dry grassland and stony places. • From Belgium and Czechoslovakia southwards to N. Portugal, S. Italy and Bulgaria', casual in S. Scandinavia and perhaps becoming naturalized. Au Be Bu Cz Ga Ge He Hs Hu It Ju Lu?Po Rm Rs (W). In E. Europe the plants are predominantly without stolons; in W.C. Europe, most plants have stolons, with the stem rooting at the base. Many of the former have been shown to be tetraploid , and of the latter diploid. The eastern plants appear in Poland and elsewhere to be connected with 62 by intermediates; the exact boundary between 62 and 63 has yet to be established. The plants from the Iberian peninsula may represent a distinct taxon.