Cleavers

Madder (Rubiaceae family):

Galium aparine L.

EPPO code:

GALAP

Other names:

Catchweed bedstraw, goose-grass, grip grass, scratch-grass, spring cleavers

Species information

Lifecycle:

Annual.

Propagation:

Reproduces by seed.

Emergence:

Cleavers emerges throughout the spring, summer and fall. Seemingly, though, fall is the most common time for emergence in cultivated fields.

Habitat:

Cleavers lives in many environments, but thrives in relatively dry, sunny areas. It does not, however, tolerate shade.

Competitiveness:

Cleavers causes cereal crops to lodge and reduces harvesting efficiency. Yield losses in cereals have ranged from 30–60%.

Identification clues

Seedling

Cotyledons:

Egg shaped on prominent petioles with a rough texture; the tip is indented.

First leaves:

Cleavers’ first leaves appear in whorls with three or more leaf blades.

Mature leaves:

Mature leaves appear in whorls of 6–8 narrow leaf blades, each with a pointed tip and rough to the touch.

Mature plant

Stem:

Cleavers’ stem is weak, long and square, with short, downward and backwards pointing firm, hair-like curved bristles.

Flowers:

They are very small and clustered in groups of 1–5; they are quickly replaced by small, spherical fruit. The plant flowers from May to August.

Roots:

Fibrous, creeping and usually with a reddish colour.

Often mistaken for

I know it's not Smooth bedstraw because cleavers has a very coarse texture and will stick to clothing. Smooth bedstraw, on the other hand, is hairless and smooth to the touch.