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common stickyseed
Scientific Name: Blennosperma nanum var. robustum
Family: Asteraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names: CA (Pt. Reyes blennosperma)
Galium aparine: The Sticky Story of Cleavers
Galium aparine, widely known as cleavers, is a fascinating plant with a reputation for being "sticky." Its unique seed dispersal method and growth habit make it a notable species in various habitats.
Common Names
- Cleavers
- Clivers
- Goosegrass
- Kisses
- Stickyweed
- Stickybud
- Sticky Willy
- Sticklebacks
- Sticky Jack
- Sticky Bobs
Considerations for Pets
- The plant produces adhesive burrs that cling to animal fur.
- The plant's seeds attach to animal fur and help to disperse its seeds.
Considerations for Children
- Common names like "Goose Grass" or "Sticky Weed" suggest children might use the plant playfully.
Distribution and Habitat
- Commonly found in hedgerows and field margins.
- Native to scree slopes and shingle areas.
- Widespread and locally common in coastal areas of NSW and Queensland.
Ecological Role
- It is a short-lived plant that grows sticky mats of foliage, which can swamp cultivated plants.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- It is a short-lived plant.
- Grows sticky mats of foliage.
- Produces small white flowers in summer followed by a round sticky seed pod.
Seed Dispersal
- The fruit is an adhesive burr that clings to animals.
- Common methods of seed dispersal are wind and water.
- The hooked seedheads aid in the plant’s seed dispersal.
- At maturity, seeds become sticky and may attach to hair or fur.
Quirky Facts
- Some people dry and roast sticky Willy seeds and use them as a caffeine-free alternative.
Further Information
- Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life worldwide.