A Star of the Underwood

Habit: A perennial herb up to 50 cm tall. Stem: Erect, robust, quadrangular and rough to the touch. Leaves: Arranged in whorls of four, forming a cross-like pattern along the stem; ovate-lanceolate, up to 6 cm long, three-nerved, with the lower surface distinctly paler than the upper one. Flowers: Arranged in dense head-like clusters surrounded by acute-ovate bracts, with a white to yellowish corolla and clearly visible yellow anthers. Fruits: Smooth capsules containing the seeds. Flowering: March–June.

Chorological type: South-European orophyte / South-West Asian. Distribution in Italy: Present in all regions of mainland Italy. Habitat: Mesophilous broadleaved forests between 100 and 1700 m above sea level.

Generic name (Asperula): From the Latin asper, “rough”, in explicit reference to the roughness of the stem and leaves typical of the genus. Specific name (taurina): Possibly derived from the Latin Taurinus, “of the Taurini”, in reference to the ancient people who lived in the territory of present-day Piedmont.

This plant releases a sweet, aromatic fragrance due to the presence of coumarin, a substance that intensifies with drying. In domestic use, much like sweet bedstraw, it was historically employed as a fragrant herb for moth-repellent sachets and to perfume wardrobes and linen. Folk tradition also records its use in the preparation of infusions with mild sedative or tonic properties, making use of its aromatic qualities and the active compounds contained in the aerial parts.