Galium odoratum (sweet woodruff, "Kurumabaso")

Japanese name: クルマバソウ （車葉草）
Scientific name: Galium odoratum

[Overview]
A perennial 20–30 cm tall, found in mountain forests.
It has a long, creeping underground stem.
The stem is erect, unbranched, and 4-ridged.
The leaves are simple, in whorls of 6–10, narrowly long elliptic to oblanceolate, 1.5–4 cm long and 0.3–1.3 cm wide, with pointed tips.
Upward-pointing stiff hairs grow on the leaf margin and on the veins on the underside.
Of the leaves in a whorl, the true leaves are the 2 that are opposite; the others are stipules of the same shape.
Cymes divided into 2–3 at the stem tip bear 4–12 flowers.
The flowers are funnel-shaped, 0.2–0.5 cm across, and white, with a 4-lobed corolla.
The fruit is densely covered with long hooked hairs.

[Uses]
The leaves are used medicinally.
When dried they have the fragrance of coumarin, and are used to flavor white wine and confectionery, or added to liqueurs and the like to drink.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by division.
It prefers a bright, airy, partially shaded place that is well drained, retains moisture well, and is moderately moist.
For plants in the ground, a place that avoids strong direct summer sun, such as under deciduous trees, is suitable.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
Fertilize sparingly.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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