Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Put into wine it makes a man merry, and good for the heart and liver. Useful for wounds, 'as cruciate and other vulnerarie herbes do'
Gerard, J. (1975). The Herbal or General History of Plants. New York: Fascimile Dover Publications Inc . p1126

Nomenclature

Asperula odorata =Woodrooffe. Also Aspergula odorata
Gerard, J. (1975). The Herbal or General History of Plants. New York: Fascimile Dover Publications Inc . p. 1124

Toxicity

Contains coumarin, a benzopyrone, which is carcinogenic but not genotoxic. This is carcinogenic in rats causing adenomas and carcinomas of liver, bileducts; adenomas of the kidneys. In mice it causes adenomas of the liver and adenomas and carcinomas of the lungs.
van den Berg, S.J.P.L., Restani, et al., P.. (2011). Levels of Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Compounds in Plant Food Supplements and Associated Risk Assessment. Food and Nutrition Science 2: 989-1010. link

Extensive drinking of herbal teas can lead to liver failure and blood clotting disorders.
Wink, Michael & Ben-Erik van Wyk (2008). Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World. Timber Press

Possibly toxic
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2022

Geographical distribution

  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, North Caucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, Transcaucasus
  • Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kazakhstan
  • Asia-Temperate, Siberia
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Baltic States
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Northwest European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, South European Russia
  • Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Austria
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Germany
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Poland
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Slovakia
  • Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Finland
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Norway
  • Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Czech Republic
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Galium odoratum (L.) Scop.

Family: RUBIACEAE
Genus: Galium
Species: odoratum (L.) Scop.
Common names: Sweet Woodruff
Distribution summary: Europe, N.Africa
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Habitat: Woodlands
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Plants of the World (B), Europe & Mediterranean (E)
Flowering months: May, June, July
Reason for growing: Medicinal


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