A member of the Rubiaceae family (Bedstraws) this plant looks not unlike low growing Galium species such as Galium saxatile. (Heath Bedstraw). Some flowers can be white and others pink and the plants in Asperula genus are known as Woodruffs.

The interesting common name comes from Squinancy and old English word for a sore throat and according to Geoffrey Grigson in his Englishman's Flora, Asperula cynanchica was used to make a concoction which you used as a gargle. Wort means flower or plant hand so Squinancywort means Sore Throat plant.

Although it can be found dotted here and there in the limestone districts of northern England and south Wales this is predominantly a southern English plant common on the chalk grasslands. There is none to be found in Scotland and in Ireland it is confined to the west coast limestone areas such as the Burren.

Asperula cynanchica Squinancywort Box Hill, Surrey, 29th July 2011 Previous   Next

Asperula cynanchica Squinancywort

Box Hill, Surrey, 29th July 2011

Added on 3rd August 2011