Flower ID: IMG_1651.JPG-06-01-2019 Flower name (scientific): Galium aparine Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) GAL-ee-um ap-AR-in-nee Flower name (common): Cleavers Family name (common): Madder Family name (scientific): Rubiaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek word gala for milk. Dioscorides' name, referencing the use of yellow bedstraw Galium verum to curdle milk for cheese making. Specific epithet: From the Greek aparíni, used by Theophrastus for goosegrass, a common name for Galium aparine. This references the clinging nature of the leaves, stem, and fruit via the hooked hairs on the plant. Sticky-willy, another common name for the plant, also reflect this clinging chacteristic. Common name origin: From the Old English clife, meaning to adhere or stick (OED). The word clife over time, morphed into cleavers. Flower description: Size: 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 5 mm) Petal count: 4 Color: white Other: flower arrangement, Occasionally solitary flowers or axillary clusters. Plant description: Size: 4 to 40 inches (10 to 102 cm) Stem hairy: Stems are 4-angled and have rough short hairs on the angles and occasionally between the angles. Other: Leaf description: attachment is whorl, type is simple Size: Leaves up to about 8 cm long and 2 to 6 mm wide. Color: medium green Hairy: Margins and lower midrib covered with short hooked hairs. Other: Shape: leaf, linear-oblong or linear-oblanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): May to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual Habitat: Woodlands, prairies, thickets, roadsides, disturbed areas, shade or part shade, moist. Fruit: Biglobose schizocarps about 3 to 6 mm wide and densely covered in hooked hairs. The hooked hairs cling to most anything that brushs by, which aids seed dispersal. Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Several Galium species in the region are similar. To help ID, we can put the Galium species in the following groups: 1.G. verum 4 yellow petals; 2.G. circaezans 4 pale yellowish-green petals; 3.G. tinctorium and G. trifidum 3 white petals. 4. The following have 4 white petals and leaves in whorls: G. aparine leaves in whorls of 6 to 8; G. asprellum leaves commonly in whorls of 6 (also 4 or 5); G. boreale leaves in whorls of 4; G. concinnum leaves commonly in whorls of 6 (also 4); G. labradoricum leaves in whorls of 4; G. lanceolatum (petals turn purple with age) leaves in whorls of 4; G. mollugo leaves in whorls of 6 or 8; G. obtusum leaves commonly in whorls of 4 or 5 (also 6); G. palustre leaves in whorls to 2 to 6; G. triflorum leaves in whorls of 6. Other characteristics such as leaf shape, flower size, etc., can separate members of the groups. Ethnobotany: The Meskwaki boiled the plant and used the mixture produced as an emetic (Smith, p. 243, 1928). The Ojibwe prepared a tea from the whole plant and used it as a diuretic, for kidney problems, gravel (i. e. kidney stones), and urinary track issues (Smith, p. 386, 1932). The Chippewa utilized the plant to treat rash and other skin ailments (Gilmore, p. 141, 1933). Latitude: 44.799683 Longitude: -91.508205 Altitude: 245.30 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 8 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): POWO lists 34 heterotypic synonyms for this species. Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU