Rubiaceae FAMILY
Asperula tinctoria
Asperula tinctoria
Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
0/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Botanical Description
Asperula tinctoria is a herbaceous perennial plant growing up to 80cm tall from a creeping rootstock. The plant sends up a cluster of branched or unbranched stems that can be erect ot prostrate[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. The plant is the source of a good quality red dye that is little used at present because it has been superseded by synthetics.
Habitat & Origin
Origintemperate
Native RangeEurasia - Norway to France and possibly Spain, east to Bulgaria, Ukraine and western Siberia
HabitatDry pastures[ 100 Title Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Publication Author Polunin. O. Publisher Oxford University Press Year 1969 ISBN 0192176218 Description An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses. ]. Meadows and rocky places[ 244 Title Herbs Publication Author Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Publisher Pan Books Ltd. London. Year 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8 Description Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant. ].