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Useful Temperate Plants

Asperula cynanchica

L.

Rubiaceae

+ Synonyms

Asperugalium occidentale (Rouy) P.Fourn.

Asperula alpigena Schur

Asperula alpina M.Bieb.

Asperula arenicola Reut.

Asperula aristata brachysiphon Lange

Asperula aristata macrosyphon Lange

Asperula bazargiciensis Prodan

Asperula capillacea (Lange) R.Vilm. ex Kerguélen

Asperula collina Salisb.

Asperula graveolens pirotica Adamovic

Asperula heteroclada Hausskn.

Asperula kerneri Procupiu ex O.Deg.

Asperula lactea Brullo, Gargano, N.G.Passal. & Peruzzi

Asperula macroclada A.Huet

Asperula minor Gray

Asperula montana lactea Porta

Asperula multiflora Lapeyr.

Asperula occidentalis Rouy

Asperula pyrenaica L.

Asperula rubeola Gratel.

Asperula rubeola Lam.

Asperula semiamicta Klokov

Asperula subalpina Schur.

Asperula tenuiflora Jord.

Asperula tinctoria adhaerens Gren.

Asperula trabutii Sennen

Cynanchica tenuifolia Fourr.

Galium cynanchicum (L.) Scop.

Common Name: Squinancy Wort

Asperula cynanchica
Flowering plant, growing in Gernamy
Photograph by: Bernd Haynold
Creative Commons License
Asperula cynanchica Asperula cynanchica Asperula cynanchica Asperula cynanchica Asperula cynanchica

General Information

Asperula cynanchica is a herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 50cm tall from a non-creeping, woody rootstock. The plant produces numerous slender, prostrate or ascending to erect stems 8 - 50cm long[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].
The plant is the source of a red dye, and also used to be employed in herbal medicine.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

Range

Central and southern Europe - Britain to Spain, east to Ukraine, Greece and the Caucasus

Habitat

Dry calcareous pastures and calcareous dunes[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height0.20 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Succeeds in almost any soil, including dry ones[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Prefers a well-drained moisture retentive soil in sun or semi-shade[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The flowers are vanilla scented[
17
Title
Flora of the British Isles.
Publication
 
Author
Clapham, Tutin and Warburg.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Year
1962
ISBN
-
Description
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant was at one time esteemed as a remedy for quinsy (an abscess by the tonsils), but it is no longer used in herbal medicine[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
].

Other Uses

A red dye is obtained from the root[
4
Title
A Modern Herbal.
Publication
 
Author
Grieve.
Publisher
Penguin
Year
1984
ISBN
0-14-046-440-9
Description
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring to early summer in a light position in a cold frame[
134
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
Publication
 
Author
Rice. G. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1988
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. 2 weeks pre-chilling improves the germination rate[
134
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
Publication
 
Author
Rice. G. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1988
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. The seed usually germinates in 1 month at 10°c[
134
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 2.
Publication
 
Author
Rice. G. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1988
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.
]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or early summer[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Basal cuttings of soft young shoots in early summer[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Asperula+cynanchica>

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