Woodruff

The woodruff is a plant from the family of the red-flowered plants (Rubiaceae), which is common in Europe, Siberia and North Africa. The woodruff is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows to a height of between 10 and 50 cm. It grows in light deciduous forests and exudes a delicate, peculiarly fresh hay-smelling scent. Woodruff blooms from mid-April to the beginning of May with delicate small white flowers.

Woodruff is the parent plant of Herba Asperulae (odoratae), the woodruff herb.

The leaves of the woodruff contain coumarin (characteristic smell of the woodruff), which is formed from the glucoside meliolotoside (this process is only carried out by hydrolysis during withering). Tannins (caffe and gallic acid), bitter substances, asperuloside (iridoid glycoside).

The leaves of the woodruff are often used for punch bowls, jelly and other desserts.

The extract is used in folk medicine for biliary and stone ailments (dubious effect).

The woodruff belongs to the genus of rennet herbs, which is very rich in species with about 650 species. In addition to woodruff, the burdock bedstraw (Galium aparine), the meadow bedstraw (Galium mollugo) and the true bedstraw (Galium verum) are used for folk medicine.