Asperula cynanchica
L.
Rubiaceae
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
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 |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.20 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
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.
].
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
