Galium helodes, Hoffmanns. & Link

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 30

94. G. helodes Hoffmanns. & Link , FI. Port. 2: 47 (1820-1824).

Plant dark green when dry, with short, subterranean stolons. Stems (15-)2O-3O(-7O) cm, less than 1 -5 mm in diameter, arising singly, slender, weak, retrorsely aculeolate and quite rough; middle internodes 3-5 times as long as the leaves. Leaves (5-)9-15(-30) x (l-)l- 2-2-2(-4) mm, in whorls of (5-)6(-7), narrowly oblanceolate, 6-8| times as long as wide; upper surface and margin with dense antrorse scabridity; apex hyaline. Inflorescence broadly pyramidal, intricately branched, many-flowered. Pedicels 1-1-5 mm, capillary. Corolla c. 2-4 mm in diameter, white, rarely suffused with pink; lobes acute. Fruit c. 1-4 mm, obtusely papillose, more or less shining. 2л =22. Grassy places and open scrub. • Portugal, N. W. Spain. Hs Lu.

It is not always easy to distinguish this species from 95 and 96 in zones of contact.