Rubiaceae

Galium tricornutum

Common Names: Three-horned bedstraw

Plant Form: Annual herb. Size: Up to 50 cm tall. Stem: Rectangular stems with small backwards pointing hairs or prickles along the edges. Leaves: Lance-shaped in whorls of 4-8 at nodes along stem. Flowers: Very small, inconspicuous, whitish-green, in clusters of 3 or sometimes 1. Fruit and Seeds: Pair of jointed spherical nutlets with a warty texture. Habitat: Cropping land, paddocks, rubbish tips. Distinguishing Features: Distinguished from the more common Cleavers (Galium aparine) by having warty fruit as opposed to fruit with hooked hairs. False Cleavers (Galium spurium) is very similar but generally has whiter flowers.