Cleavers - Galium aparine

I couldn't resist taking a picture of these odd fruits. They were reddish, grew in hairs, and were covered in white/clear hairs.

Habitat: Wooded wetland

comments (12)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Looks like the upside down version of "Old man's balls":

Posted 6 years ago, modified 6 years ago
1. Stephen Philips
  
  Lion
  
  I trust you are being clean with this comment... I know it is a nickname but come on son! Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    It’s the first thing I thought of when I spotted these fruits... Posted 6 years ago
  2. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    I tread with care on the web, but I know Christine can see the humor in it. Plus, I didn't create the nickname, just sharing "knowledge" :) Posted 6 years ago
  3. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Haha, definitely. It gave me a good giggle. Posted 6 years ago
    2. 1. Stephen Philips
        
        Lion
        
        It's all good!! Posted 6 years ago

Stephen Philips

Lion

Great shot and composition is perfect Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! Posted 6 years ago

Gary B

Lion

You may have Galium triflorum here which has fuzzy fruits covered by hooked hairs. The fruit of Galium asprellum is snooth. Galium aparine is another possibility. Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks so much, Gary! Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Gary B
    
    Lion
    
    You're welcome, Christine. I'm thinking this may be Galium aparine based on fruit color and the longish hooked hairs along the leaf margins. I can't see the rest of leaves on your plant but Galium aparine has long somewhat narrow leaves usually in whorls of 6 to 8.
    
    https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/galium/aparine/
    https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/sticky-willy Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Oh okay, thanks again. I will change the ID. Posted 4 years ago

The Catchweed Bedstraw

"Galium aparine", with common names including cleavers, clivers, catchweed, robin-run-the-hedge, goosegrass,and sticky willy, is an annual, herbaceous plant of the family Rubiaceae.

Info 14 0

Similar species: Gentianales

Species identified by Christine Young