Cleavers, Goosegrass, Bedstraw
Galium aparine

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. The stems are bristly and sticky. They are square in cross section. It trails over other plants. It climbs by hooked bristles. The leaves are bristly and sprout from the stems in clusters of 6-8. The leaves do not have stalks. The flowers are small and white. The seed pods are bristly and have 2 round segments about 3 mm wide.

There are about 300-400 Galium species. There are 60 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It grows in temperate places. It grows in rich, moist soils and in forests. It grows in high rainfall areas. In Argentea it grows from sea level to 3,500 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, Chile, China, Dominican Republic (country/location of origin), Europe (country/location of origin), Falklands, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Iran, Italy, Korea, Libya, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Norway, NW India, Pakistan, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovenia, South America (country/location of origin), Sweden, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The young shoots are boiled and eaten. They are added to salads. The ripe fruit (seeds) are roasted and ground and used as a coffee substitute. The dried plant is used as a tea. The stalks and leaves are rubbed between the hands and used as a fermenting agent for yoghurt.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, seeds, leaves - tea, seeds - coffee

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed. Plants can also be grown by division.

Its other names

Local names

Bur-weed, Catchweed, Cobansuzgeci, Cochna, Gaillet gratteron, Ierva catene, Khorti,Kleefkruid, Klengemaure, Lahndra, Lengua de gato, Pega pega, Pegadera, Pegajera, Ranwawa, Sticky willie, Wanwair, Wanwair booti, Yapiskan ot

Synonyms

Aparine hispida Moench [Illegitimate]; Aparine vulgaris Hill; Galium agreste Wallr.; and others