Galium laevigatum, 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 : 28

75. G. laevigatum L. , Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1667 (1763).

Stolons present, but often short. Stems 70-110 cm, stout, subterete at the base, with 4 weak ridges, usually glabrous; young shoots green or somewhat glaucous-pruinose. Leaves 40-75 x (3—)4—6(—11) mm, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, widest at the middle, gradually narrowed to the apex, bright green or somewhat glaucous, usually remaining greenish when dry, membranous; margin with few rows of teeth. Inflorescence lax to dense, ovoid; pedicels usually equalling diameter of corolla. Corolla (2-)2-4-3*5(-4) mm in diameter, slightly cup-shaped to rotate; lobes almost always more or less apiculate. 2л = 44. Mountain woods. • 5*. & S. W. Alps, Appennini, N. W. Jugoslavia. Au Ga He?Hs It Ju?Lu.

Often confused with 70 or 77. It is quite variable, combining characters of G. procurrens and G. aristatum , sometimes also approaching G. sylvaticum . It is possible that populations described from the Pyrenees as G. sylvaticum var. pyrenaicum Gren. & Godron ( G. atrovirens Lapeyr. ), and extending to the mountains of N. Portugal, also belong to this taxon.