Crosswort (Cruciata laevipes)
Crosswort is one of Abbey Field’s red-listed species; in England it is classed as “Near Threatened”.
It has suffered a steep decline in the number of locations recorded in England. It does however seem to be widespread in Cambridgeshire where it is known from 118 monads (1 km x 1 km squares).
A member of the bedstraw family, along with cleavers (Galium aparine) – which (also known as goosegrass) are prolific in the villages - and lady’s bedstraw (Galium verum) which can be found on Long Meadow in mid-summer, after the hay cut.
Crosswort is named after the four-leaved whorls up the stem. The upper whorls are surrounded by clusters of tiny yellow, honey-scented flowers.
It is generally found on waysides and in rough grasslands, predominantly on calcareous soils.