Scientific Name:
Galium aparine
Pronunciation:
GAL-ee-um ap-AR-in-nee
Common Name:
northern bedstraw, cleavers
Family Name:
Rubiaceae
Plant Type:
Annual (true), Vine or climber, Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Leaves on stem usually in whorls of 8, linear to narrowly oblanceolate, bristly hairs, margins entire, 1-4(-7)cm long; flowers about 2mm wide with 4 white petals, in terminal clusters of 3-5; fruit dry, bristly, splits into nut-like mericarps each about 4mm wide.
Habit:
Arching, Irregular, Open, Pendulous, Spreading
Form:
Climbing, Irregular
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.6 - 1.0m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Filtered shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Water Use:
Low
Landscape Uses:
Herb, Medicinal plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Whorled
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glandular hairs
Shapes:
Linear, Oblanceolate
Apices:
Acuminate
Margins:
Ciliate
Inflorescence Type:
Cyme, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
4
Corolla Shape:
Rotate/stellate
Colour (petals):
Not showy, White
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
May, Jun
Fruit Type:
Nut, Schizocarp
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Aug, Sep
Additional Info:
Not showy, Schizocarp of two nutlets with bristles for animal dispersion
Bark or Stem Colour:
Additional Info:
squarish ribbed stems
Propagation:
Seed
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant)
Course(s):
- Level 2 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend
- (BUG) BUG garden
- (JPL) Juglans PLanting
- (WDY) WeeDY location