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Galiumaparine Linnaeus. Cleavers, Sticky-willy. Phen: Apr-Jul. Hab: Meadows, thickets, disturbed areas, forests. Dist: Nearly cosmopolitan, from n. North America south through Central and South America.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: The "Galium aparine complex" is represented in North America (including our area) by both native and introduced genotypes. We here provisionally recognize Galium spurium as a separate taxon from Galium aparine (see Moore 1975), but the material in our region needs additional study.
Other Comments: Schübler
Synonymy ⓘ: = Stace (2010); = Galiumaparine L. ssp. spurium (L.) Simonk.; = Galiumaparine L. var. aparine – Il; < Galiumaparine L. – Ar, F, Fl5, G, GW2, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NcTx, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Dempster (1981); > Galiumaparine L. ssp. infestum (Waldst. & Kit.) Schübl. & Martens – GBI4; > Galiumaparine L. var. aparine – C, GrPl; > Galiumaparine L. var. echinospermum (Wallr.) Farw. – GrPl; > Galiumspurium L. ssp. spurium – GBI4
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Horticultural Information
Intro:Prostrate annual that sprawls over other plants, often forming dense mats and found in meadows, thickets, disturbed areas and forests.
Stems:Stems 4-angled, hollow, branched and covered with stiff, down-curved prickles
Leaves:Leaves whorled (6-8), sessile, oblong-lance-shaped to linear, to 3 in. long, with stiff, down-curved hairs on mid-vein and margins.
Inforescence:
Flowers:Flowers in small clusters of 1-3 on forking stalks arising from leaf whorls, white, 1/10 in. wide, consisting of a short tube and 4 spreading, long-tipped petals.
Fruits:Fruit a green-turning-brown or black seed capsule composed of 2 round lobes covered with curved bristles and containing 1 seed per lobe.
Comments:
Height:to 5 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description:Prostrate annual that sprawls over other plants, often forming dense mats and found in meadows, thickets, disturbed areas and forests.
stems:Stems 4-angled, hollow, branched and covered with stiff, down-curved prickles
leaves:Leaves whorled (6-8), sessile, oblong-lance-shaped to linear, to 3 in. long, with stiff, down-curved hairs on mid-vein and margins.
inflorescence:
flowers:Flowers in small clusters of 1-3 on forking stalks arising from leaf whorls, white, 1/10 in. wide, consisting of a short tube and 4 spreading, long-tipped petals.
fruits:Fruit a green-turning-brown or black seed capsule composed of 2 round lobes covered with curved bristles and containing 1 seed per lobe.
