Cruciata glabra, (L.) Ehrend.

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 : 37

3. C. glabra (L.) Ehrend. , Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb. 22: 393 (1958)

( Galium vernum Scop. ).

Herbaceous perennial with sub­ terranean stolons. Stems c. 5-20 cm, usually without lateral branches; longest internodes 1 -5-3 cm, glabrous or sometimes with slender, patent hairs 0-4-0-8 mm. Leaves in flowering region 7-16 x 3-7 mm, yellowish, later green, narrowly to broadly ovate or elliptical, acute, 3-veined. Cymes 3- to 5-flowered, without bracteoles; peduncles and pedicels usually glabrous, scarcely elongating in fruit. Flowers c. 2-5-3-5 mm; styles divided to c. i. Fruit usually with 1 mericarp 1 -5-2-8 mm, pyriform, nearly always glabrous. 2/7 = 22, 44. S. & S. C. Europe, extending northwards to C. Poland and S.C. Russia. Al Au Bu Co Cz Ga *Ge Gr He Hs Hu It Ju Lu Po Rm Rs (C, W) Sa?Si.

Rather variable. Hairy variants occur mainly in S.W. Europe. Diploid plants have been found in Portugal and the S.W. Alps. Tetraploids are widespread, but cannot yet be distinguished morphologically from the diploids.