Ontario Weeds: Cleavers
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Excerpt from Publication 505, Ontario Weeds, Order this publication
Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Stems and Roots
- Flowers and Fruit
- Habitat
- Similar Species
- Related Links
Name: Cleavers, Galium aparine
L.,
Other Names: gaillet grateron, Spring
cleavers, Goose-grass, gratteron
Family: Madder Family (Rubiaceae)
General Description: Annual, reproducing
only by seed.
Cleavers, showing backward- or downward-pointing hairs on stems and whorled leaves.
Cleavers. A. Lower and upper parts of a mature plant. B. Portion of stem enlarged to show the backward-pointing bristles.
Stems & Roots: Stems weak or
reclining, 10-121cm (4-48in.) long, square in cross-section with
strongly ribbed corners, with very short, downward- or backward-pointing,
firm, hair-like, curved bristles; leaves usually 3 to 8 in a whorl,
linear, tapering at the base, mostly 1-8cm (2/5-3-2/5in.) long,
with bristles at the pointed tip, somewhat hairy on both surfaces
and with many very short, backward-pointing bristles on the margins.
These tiny hook-like bristles on stems and leaves cause them to
cling together in masses and to cling to clothing, skin or fur,
hence the common name, "cleavers."
Flowers & Fruit: Inflorescence
mostly 1- to 5-flowered; flowers very small and soon replaced by
the small spherical fruits; fruits bristly, 1.5-4mm (1/16-1/6in.)
in diameter. Flowers from May to August.
Habitat: Cleavers is found in southern
Ontario in woods, meadows, compost heaps, gardens and fields, and
along roadsides and riverbanks.
Similar Species: It is distinguished by
its square, weak, clinging stems, its bristle-tipped leaves that
also cling with backward-pointing bristles on the margins, and all
leaves arranged in whorls of 3 to 8 at each node of the stem.
Related Links
... on general Weed
topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA
Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA
Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
For more information:
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