Woodruff

Woodruff

Taxobox
name = Woodruff


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Woodruff plant in flower
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Gentianales
familia = Rubiaceae
genus = "Galium"
species = "G. odoratum"
binomial = "Galium odoratum"
binomial_authority = (L.) Scop. [cite web
url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?103279
title=Galium odoratum information from NPGS/GRIN
publisher=www.ars-grin.gov
accessdate=2008-05-16
last=
first=]
synonyms ="Asperula odorata"

Woodruff ("Galium odoratum") is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Rubiaceae, native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia. It grows to 30-50 cm (12-20 ins.) long, often lying flat on the ground or supported by other plants. The plant is also known in English as Sweet Woodruff or Wild Baby's Breath. "Master of the woods" is probably a translation of the German name "Waldmeister". Names like "Sweetscented bedstraw", "Cudweed" and "Ladies' Bedstraw" should be avoided; the former two properly refer to "Galium triflorum", the latter to "Galium verum".

The leaves are simple, lanceolate, glabrous, 2-5 cm long, and borne in whorls of 6-9. The small (4-7 mm diameter) flowers are produced in cymes, each white with four petals joined together at the base. The seeds are 2-4 mm diameter, produced singly, and each seed is covered in tiny hooked bristles which help disperse the seed by sticking temporarily to clothing and animal fur.

This plant prefers partial to full shade in moist, rich soils. In dry summers it needs frequent irrigation. Propagation is by crown division, separation of the rooted stems, or digging up of the barely submerged perimeter stolons.

Uses

Woodruff, as the scientific name "odoratum" suggests, is a strongly scented plant, the sweet scent being derived from coumarin. This scent increases on wilting and then persists on drying, and woodruff is used in pot-pourri and as a moth deterrent. It is also used, mainly in Germany, to flavour May wine (called "Maiwein" or "Maibowle" in German), beer (Berliner Weisse), brandy, sausages, jelly, jam, a soft drink (Tarhun), ice cream, and an herbal tea with gentle sedative properties.

High doses can cause headaches, due to the toxity of coumarin. Very high doses of coumarin can cause vertigo, somnolence or even central paralysis and apnoea while in a coma. Since 1981, woodruff may no longer be used as an ingredient of industrially produced drinks and foodstuffs in Germany; it has been replaced by artificial aromas and colorings.

References


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  • Woodruff — Woodruff, SC U.S. city in South Carolina Population (2000): 4229 Housing Units (2000): 1869 Land area (2000): 3.661964 sq. miles (9.484444 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.017927 sq. miles (0.046432 sq. km) Total area (2000): 3.679891 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

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  • woodruff — [wood′rəf] n. [ME woderove < OE wudurofe < wudu,WOOD1 + rofe < ?] any of a genus (Asperula) of plants of the madder family, with small, white, pink, or blue, lily shaped flowers; esp., a European species ( A. odorata) used to flavor wine …   English World dictionary

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