Asperula odorata / Sweet Woodruff / Rubiaceae (Coffee family)

Information

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Other Names

Galium odoratum , sweet woodruff.

Scent

The dried foliage has the sweet scent of newly mown hay.

Contents

Sweet woodruff contains iridoids, coumarins (0.6%), tannins, anthraquinones, and flavonoids. (3)

Historical

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 snuffs, 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, sausages, jelly, jam, a soft drink (Tarhun), ice cream, and herbal tea. (1)
Sweet woodruff was widely used in herbal medicine during the Middle Ages, both externally and internally. The plant is grown commercially as a source of coumarin, used to make an anticoagulant drug. (2)
Because of the toxicity of coumarin in high doses, today woodruff is not so widely used as an edible and medicinal plant. It still has various applications in herbal medicine and homeopathy. The plant also enjoys a great popularity with gardeners.

Health Warnings

High doses can cause headaches, due to the toxicity of coumarin. In very large doses, sweet woodruff can cause internal bleeding. Do not use it if you are pregnant or when taking conventional medication for circulatory problems.

Plant Description

Woodruff is a herbaceous perennial plant, native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia. It grows to 30-50 cm (12-20 ins.) long, often lying flat on the ground or supported by other plants. The leaves are simple, lanceolate, glabrous, 2-5 cm long, and borne in whorls of 6-9. The small (4-7 mm diameter) flowers are produced in cymes, each white with four petals joined together at the base. The seeds 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.

References

(1) Woodruff, Wikipedia
(2) Galium odoratum, Plants For A Future
(3) Sweet Woodruff, herbs2000.com