Cruciata glabra (L.) Ehrend.

Family: RUBIACEAE

Genus: Cruciata

Sinònims: Galium vernum Scop.

Catalan common name: Te de bosc.

Spanish common name: Cruxia lisa. Cruxia portuguesa. Cruzada.

Province distribution: Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Eurosiberian (Submediterranean)

Uses and properties: Medicinal.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Fir forest and beech forest. Alpine grasslands. Buxus balearica forests. Mesophyll mountainous grasslands. Quercus humilis oak wood. Quercus robur oak wood.

Characteristics: Forest clearings and borders, box-shrubland, sub alpine pasture- generally in cool locations. A perennial herb with underground stolons and erect stems. Leaves are opposite and entire; the stipules are exactly the same length as the leaves forming a false whorl of 4 leaves. The flowers are located on the axial inflorescences, in groups of 3-5. At each cyme, the flowers in the central flowers are hermaphrodites, while the laterals are either male or absent. The calyx is lacking and the corolla is four-pieced and pale yellow in colour.