From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Crosswort
'Cruciata laevipes Opiz'
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asteridae
Order:	Rubiales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Genus:	Cruciata L.

Cruciata laevipes Opiz 1852, the Crosswort or in Gaelic Luc na croise, is an indigenous member of the madder and bedstraw group of plants. It is also known as Smooth Bedstraw.^[1]

Synonyms

Synonyms - Galium cruciata (L.) Scop. and Cruciata chersonensis (Willd.) Ehrend.

Distribution

Crosswort is native to Scotland, England and Wales, but not to Ireland.^[2] In Europe it grows as far East as Siberia.

Habitat

C. laevipes is found in meadows, road verges, riverbanks, scrub and open woodland, generally on well-drained calcareous soils.^[3]

Species characteristics

Crosswort flowers.

The term laevipes refers to the smooth stalk (not hairless).^[4]

This perennial sprawling plant can grow to a height of 15-70cm, spreads by seeds and stolons and has, unusually amongst this group, yellow hermaphrodite flowers. The inner flowers are male and soon fall off, whilst the outer are bisexual and produce the fruit. The flowers smell of honey.^[5] It is arbuscular mycorrhizal in which the fungus penetrates the cortical cells of the roots.^[6]

Of the whorls of four leaves, only two in each group are real leaves, the other two being stipules.^[7]

Medicinal uses

C. laevipes is little used today, however it was considered a very good wound herb for both inward and outward wounds. A decoction of the leaves in wine was also used for obstructions in the stomach or bowels and to stimulate appetite. It was also recommended as a remedy for rupture, rheumatism and dropsy.^[8]

Bald's Leechbook recommended crosswort as a cure for headaches.^[9]

References

External links

• Photograph of C. laevipes
• C. laevipes photographs

From Wikispecies

Cruciata laevipes

Taxonavigation

Classification System: APG II (down to family level)

Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Euasterids I
Ordo: Gentianales
Familia: Rubiaceae
Subfamilia: Rubioideae
Tribus: Rubieae
Genus:Cruciata
Species: Cruciata laevipes

Name

Cruciata laevipes (Opiz)

Vernacular names