Galium aetnicum, Biv.

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 : 25

48. G. aetnicum Biv. , Stirp. Rar. Sic. Deser. 4: 21 (1816).

Glaucous and pruinose; stolons present or absent. Stems usually 30-60 cm, numerous, slender, procumbent-ascending, glabrous and smooth, with few non-flowering branches; internodes up to 7 cm. Leaves 10-20 x 0-7-2 mm, linear-oblanceolate, with narrow midrib. Inflorescence narrowly oblong, the lateral branches erect, forming ovoid partial inflorescences. Corolla (2-)3-4 mm, white; lobes narrow, strongly apiculate. Fruit black, somewhat pruinose. 2« = 44. Dry, rocky places. • C. & S. Italy, Sicilia, Sardegna. It Sa Si.

48 includes plants from Italy formerly called G. cinereum . On Monte Etna there is a continuous series from tall coastal to very short alpine variants. Populations from Sardegna may lack stolons and have more erect stems and shortly apiculate corollalobes; they have been described as G. schmidii Arrigoni , Webbia 27: 507 (1972).