Small Cleavers - Galium murale
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Species Description
A native of the Mediterranean scattered and rare mostly in the south. Habitat includes: urban lanes, pavements, railway sidings etc. Other names include: Small Goosegrass, Tiny Bedstraw.
Stace 4:
Galium murale (L.) All. - Small Cleavers.
Differs from G. aparine in stems to 20cm; leaves 4-6 per whorl, with forward-directed marginal prickles, oblanceolate to narrowly obovate; corolla greenish-cream; fruits 1.3-1.5mm (excl. bristles); 2n=22, 44). Neophyte-naturalised; paving cracks, railway sidings and other open places; South England, South Wales, South Ireland, established in County Wexford since 2011, increasing; Mediterranean.
Key:
- Ovaries and fruits with hooked bristles
- Most or all whorls with ≥5 leaves
- Annual; flowers in axillary cymes; corolla-tube <1mm
- Fruit <3mm (excl. bristles), its bristles wider but not bulbous at base; corolla <1.4mm across
- Leaves with forward-directed marginal prickles; fruits ≤1.5mm (excl. bristles)
- Flowers ≤4 per node; fruits 1.3-1.5mm
Useful Links:
Manual of the Alien Plants of Belgium