Cleavers is a
native
annual plant of the UK, typically found growing in hedgerows and waste ground, to a mature height of up to 120cm.
Cleavers is so named owing to its habit of attaching to (or 'cleaving to') anything that passes, by means of the hooked hairs that cover the plant's leaf whorls and trailing stems.
Botanic classification and naming: Cleavers is a member of the Madder (Rubiaceae) family. The genus name
'Galium' identifies the plant as a Bedstraw and its species name 'aparine' means 'clinging plant'.
Benefits: Pollinated by flies and beetles. Carpet moth caterpillars feed on this plant.
Benefits to wildlife are also indicated with orange icons in the plant profile bar at the top.
|