Rubiaceae

Galium aparine

Common Names: Cleavers

Plant Form: Scrambling to climbing annual herb. Size: Up to 1.5 m long. Stem: With backwards-pointing prickles along the edges. Leaves: In whorls of 6-9, undivided, up to 6 cm, with backwards curving hairs on margins and hooked hairs on surfaces. Flowers: In small branched groupings of 2-7, tiny, white, with four petals. Fruit and Seeds: Dry, 3-5 mm across, with many hooked hairs that attach to clothes and fur. Habitat: Parks, bushland, forests, disturbed areas, riparian areas. Distinguishing Features: Combination of leaves in whorls and the hooked, burr-like hairs on leaves and fruits distinguish from other Bedstraws (Galium species).

Leaves are in whorls

Rambles over ground and low objects

Round burr-like fruit

Dies back in winter