Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Woodruff



Drawing of Woodruff (Galium odorata), Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany.



Close-up of Woodruff


Woodruff Description




The herbaceous plant Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is native to Western Asia,Woodruff grows to lengths from 30 to 50 cm, but it is not very strong and lays flat along the ground. If there are other plants nearby, Woodruff will also grow upwards, but supported by the other plants.  Northern Africa and Europe.
 
Woodruff emits a very strong scent, which comes from coumarin, a toxin found in this plant. The scent gets stronger when the plant is dying and wilting, and stays around when drying. This fact makes Woodruff a popular pot-pourri addition. It is also used to flavour many different food and beverage products. As mentioned, it is toxic, but only in high doses. Germany has banned the use of Woodruff in commercial food products since 1981.
 
 
 
Woodruff Classification


- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Order: Gentianales

- Family: Rubiaceae

- Genus: Galium

- Species

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