Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Galium aparine

Other names

Goosegrass

Family

Rubiaceae

Flowering season

May to September

English distribution

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Cleavers

Habitat

It is pretty well ubiquitous and grows over other plants in

hedgerows and waste areas.

It also grows as a prostrate colony on dunes and shingle.

It is considered to be an agricultural weed and is thought

to be resistant to herbicides.

Description

Cleavers is a native, scrambling, annual, herb growing up

to 3m.

The flowers are in stalked clusters and are small - up to

2mm.

There are 4 white petals, 4 stamens and 2 styles with

capitate stigmas.

The fruits are up to 6mm and in pairs. They are covered

in white, hooked bristles which allow them to attach to

animal coats for dispersal.

Leaves are in whorls of up to 8 in a whorl and up to

5cm long.

They are narrowly lanceolate and have bristles on

the margins and a terminal bristle.

Bracts, stipules and leaves are of similar sizes and

all bristled.

The stems are 4 angled and covered in downwardly

pointing bristles.

The bristles on the stems and leaves enable Cleavers

to attach to and clamber over other plants. 

Cleavers' shoots are one of the first recognisable plants

to appear at the end of winter. From late January onwards,

they cover the the ground near hedgerows.