Plants of South Eastern New South Wales

Asperula conferta

Flowers and leafy stems. Photographer Harry Rose, unknown site

Plants. Photographer Don Wood, Oallen Road west of Nerriga

Common name

Common woodruff

Family

Rubiaceae

Where found

Forest, woodland, and grassy sites, in damp or shady situations. Widespread.

Notes

Perennial herb, becoming woody at the base, to 0.3 m tall or sprawling to prostrate.  Stems 4-angled, sparsely hairy or on the angles. Leaves in whorls of 5-6, 0.2-1.2 cm long, 0.3–1 mm wide, flat to curved in cross section, hairless except for the midvein, margins rough or hairy, and flat to curved down, tips pointed, usually with a short point. Male and female flowers on separate plants. Flowers creamy white to pinkish, 2-4 mm long, funnel-shaped, with four lobes. Flower clusters in mostly 1-3 groups each with 3 or more flowers. Flowers Spring to Summer.

All native plants on unleased land in the ACT are protected.

PlantNET description:   http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Asperula~conferta (accessed 28 April 2021)