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{{SPlantbox
|common_name=Woodruff
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{{Inc|
Asperula odorata, Linn. Sweet Woodruff. Fig. 412. Habit erect or ascending: height 6-8 in.: Lvs. usually in whorls of 8, lanceolate, finely toothed or roughish at the margin: corollas campanulate: seeds rough. Eu. and Orient. Eng. Bot. 2:775. Baxter Brit. Bot. 1:46. — Increases rapidly, and is used for carpeting shady places, and for edgings.
}}
{{otheruses1|a type of plant}}
{{otheruses1|a type of plant}}
{{Taxobox
{{Taxobox
[[Image:Waldmeister.jpg|left|thumb|Detail of flowers]]
[[Image:Waldmeister.jpg|left|thumb|Detail of flowers]]
'''Woodruff''' (''Galium odoratum'') is a [[herb]]aceous [[perennial plant]] in the family [[Rubiaceae]], native to [[Europe]], western [[Asia]] and north [[Africa]]. It grows to 30-50 cm 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]]''.
'''Woodruff''' (''Galium odoratum'') is a [[herb]]aceous [[perennial plant]] in the family [[Rubiaceae]], native to [[Europe]], western [[Asia]] and north [[Africa]]. It grows to 30-50 cm 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 [[leaf|leaves]] are simple, lanceolate, glabrous, 2-5 cm long, and borne in whorls of 6-9. The small (4-7 mm diameter) [[flower]]s are produced in [[cyme]]s, each white with four petals joined together at the base. The [[seed]]s 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.
The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple, lanceolate, glabrous, 2-5 cm long, and borne in whorls of 6-9. The small (4-7 mm diameter) [[flower]]s are produced in [[cyme]]s, each white with four petals joined together at the base. The [[seed]]s 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.
== Uses ==
== Uses ==
[[Image:Illustration Galium odorata0.jpg|thumb|left|Woodruff – from Thomé, ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'' 1885]]
[[Image:Illustration Galium odorata0.jpg|thumb|left|Woodruff – from Thomé, ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'' 1885]]
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]], [[sausage]]s, [[Gelatin dessert|jelly]], [[jam]], a soft drink (Tarchun), and a [[herbal tea]] with gentle [[sedative]] properties.
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]], [[sausage]]s, [[Gelatin dessert|jelly]], [[jam]], a soft drink (Tarchun), and a [[herbal tea]] with gentle [[sedative]] properties.
High doses can cause headaches, and very high doses (far beyond those found in the aforementioned drinks) can even have mind-altering properties, as well as causing vertigo, somnolence or even central paralysis and apnoea while in a coma; so, some common sense should be applied when consuming woodruff. Since the 1980s, 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. However, the plant itself remains on sale and is also widely collected from the wild for private use. Using up to three [[gram]]s of woodruff per [[litre]] of May wine is considered safe, as long as the drink is consumed no more than a few weeks per year.
High doses can cause headaches, and very high doses (far beyond those found in the aforementioned drinks) can even have mind-altering properties, as well as causing vertigo, somnolence or even central paralysis and apnoea while in a coma; so, some common sense should be applied when consuming woodruff. Since the 1980s, 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. However, the plant itself remains on sale and is also widely collected from the wild for private use. Using up to three [[gram]]s of woodruff per [[litre]] of May wine is considered safe, as long as the drink is consumed no more than a few weeks per year.