Cleavers Plant Uk

Fresh seed has been reported to germinate readily.

Cleavers plant uk. There are upwards of 3 000 species in the rubiaceae family. Seed is set from july to october. Cleavers galium aparine there are young cleavers shoots coming up now in july. Its chopped leaves and stem can be made into soups and stews.

This plant is also known as biddy bid clivers goosegrass or sticky willy. Lemon balm also lends itself very well to this cold infusion method the aroma of balm being so lovely. Cleavers was once used as a potherb. Populations can differ in their 1 000 seed weight.

Cleavers is a climbing plant using the hooks on its stems to aid its scrambling progress. Hairs and prickles cover most parts of this plant which make it cling to clothing and fur so familiar to walkers and gardeners. For this reason it has many other common names such as sticky bobs stick a back and kisses because lovers cling to each other too. Cleavers are in the rubiaceae family which consists of flowering plants in the coffee madder or bedstraw family.

A sure sign we need this plant during winter to help clear and keep our lymphatic system in good shape and to purify our blood. The average number of seeds per plant is 300 400 but counts of over 1 000 seeds per plant have been recorded. The hooks on its fruits attach to animals and us to help disperse its seeds. The plant s hook like bristles soften when boiled.

Cleavers galium aparine grow rapidly during warm weather the sticky stems are able to scramble around the garden smothering small cultivated plants and setting masses of seed. Food uses of cleavers. The square shaped stem supports small round fruits little white flowers and thin leaves in swirls of 6 8. Cleavers is a common annual weed native to hedgerows scrub and arable land which can spread to gardens on the fur of animals and clothing of passers by.

It was a useful plant in medieval kitchens because it could be picked in frost or snow. Cleavers can be used as a spring tonic making a refreshing drink. Cleavers flowers mainly from june to august and is self pollinated. Cleavers is widespread except for some areas towards the north of scotland.

Although seedlings usually appear singly rather than en masse like many other common weeds the numerous and easily distributed seeds mean the weed can quickly establish in gardens if not controlled promptly. Galium aparine aparine from greek apairo απαίρω από from αίρω pull to lift lay hold of or seize with many common names including cleavers clivers bedstraw goosegrass catchweed stickyweed sticky bob stickybud stickyback robin run the hedge sticky willy sticky willow stickyjack stickeljack grip grass sticky grass bobby buttons and velcro. Other names that cleavers are known as include sticky willy stickybud stickyweed kisses and clivers. The tender shoots can be boiled and buttered as a vegetable.

Cleavers is a scrambling. Where to find cleavers.