The sweet-smelling Woodruff is common all over the country, and when
dried its perfume is like new-mown hay. It grows in woods and on shady
hedge-banks, and it flowers in early summer.
The flowers are small and white, with four petals which stand round the
mouth of a tiny tube. Inside this tube are four yellow-headed stamens,
and there is a small green sepal-cup in which the white tube stands. The
flowers grow in clusters at the end of the main stem. They do not rise
from each circle of leaves as in the Goosegrass. The tiny seeds are
black, and each seed is thickly covered with soft bristles, which are
hooked at the end.
The ridged stem of the Woodruff is often a dull red colour. This stem is
very feeble, so the Woodruff is usually found lying in a tangle along
the ground. It has not so many hooks as the Goosegrass with which to
catch hold of other plants, and so raise itself.
The leaves grow about an inch apart on the stem, in beautiful circles.
In each circle there are eight narrow leaves which are pointed at the
end. The circles nearest the foot of the stem lie flat open like a
rosette, but those that are further up are usually half closed, with all
their points standing upwards.