CROSSWORT

HONEYWORT

Cruciata laevipes

Bedstraw Family [Rubiaceae]  

month8apr month8april month8May month8jun month8june

status
statusZnative
 
flower
flower8yellow
 
morph
morph8actino
 
petals
petalsZ4
 
type
typeZtieredwhorls
 
stem
stem8square
 
smell
smell8fragrant smell8new-mown hay
fragrant

9th June 2008, Lathkilldale, Derbyshire Photo: © RWD
Covering a limestone hill in patches.


9th June 2008, Lathkilldale, Derbyshire Photo: © RWD
Grows up to 60cm high mostly on lime.


31st May 2005, Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Skipton Photo: © RWD
Branched only at the base, flowers in whorls all the way up the stem, getting more frequent towards the top. Note the intermingled Water Avens.



27th May 2005, Chinley, Derbyshire Photo: © RWD
Leaves stack up one atop another in whorls of four.


12th June 2008, Monksdale, Derbyshire Photo: © RWD
Leaves have long white soft hairs.


Photo: © RWD
Flowers small, 2-3mm across, stacked in whorls above each whorl of four leaves. Stems square and ridged at the corners with long white soft hairs on each side.


8th May 2009, River Kent, Sizergh, Lancashire. Photo: © RWD
Leaves pale green, softly-hair and elliptical, in whorls of four with four-petalled flowers on thin stalks just above the whorl.


15th May 2008, Warton Crag, Silverdale, Lancs Photo: © Joy Ahmad
Flowers are pale yellow only slightly of differing colour to the pale green leaves.


Photo: © RWD
Flowers on hairy stalks.


14th May 2011, under Whitbarrowm Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Four narrow pale-yellow petals with four stamens bearing brownish pollen.


Some similarities to : Lady's Bedstraw which is another member of the bedstraw family but which has richer yellow flowers and with much narrower leaves in whorls of eight rather than only the four or so of Crosswort.

The roots yield a red dye.

The cut plant was formerly strewn across the floor to sweeten stone floors.


  Cruciata laevipes  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Rubiaceae  

Distribution
family8bedstraw family8rubiaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8cruciata
Cruciata
(Crosswort)

CROSSWORT

HONEYWORT

Cruciata laevipes

Bedstraw Family [Rubiaceae]  

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