| Woodruff plant in flower| Woodruff plant in flower | Galium
odoratum| 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 pref