Galium aparine Linnaeus. Common name: Cleavers, Sticky-willy. Phenology: Apr-Jul. Habitat: Meadows, thickets, disturbed areas, forests. Distribution: 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); = Galium aparine L. ssp. spurium (L.) Simonk.; = Galium aparine L. var. aparine — Il; < Galium aparine L. — Ar, F, Fl5, G, GW2, K4, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Dempster (1981); > Galium aparine L. ssp. infestum (Waldst. & Kit.) Schübl. & Martens — GBI4; > Galium aparine L. var. aparine — C, GrPl; > Galium aparine L. var. echinospermum (Wallr.) Farw. — GrPl; > Galium spurium L. ssp. spurium — GBI4; Galium aparine L. Basionym: Galium aparine L. 1753
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
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© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Aidan Campos source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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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.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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