Slender crosswort
Cruciata glabra

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It has underground runners. The stems are 5-35 cm long and they can be upright or lie down. The leaves do not have stalks. They are oblong and 1-2 cm long by 1 cm wide. The flowers are in loose groups in the axils of the leaves. The fruit are 2.5 mm across and pear shaped.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in humid shady areas between 500-2,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Albania, Algeria, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Europe, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuana, Mediterranean, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine

How it is used for food

The flowering aerial parts are used for a herbal tea.

Edible parts

Flowers - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gola dremota, Kaljuristimatara, Kevad-ristmadar, Te de guara

Synonyms

Galium bauhinii Roem. & Schult.; Valantia glabra L.; and others