Flower:

2 to 5 stalked flowers at the end of a stem that arises from a leaf axil. Individual flowers have 4 pointed white petals with a greenish center, and are about 1/16 inch across.

Leaves and stem:

Leaves are whorled in groups of 6 to 8, narrow, ¾ to 3½ inches long and less than ½ inch wide, broadest towards the tip, with a spine-like sharp point at the tip. The stem is square. The leaves and stem are covered with hooked hairs (see the flower photo above for a better close-up) that latch onto anything that brushes against them. Stems are weak and few-branched, the plant sometimes erect but more often sprawling, or climbing up surrounding vegetation.

Fruit:

Fruit is a tiny ball-like capsule, containing a single seed. The capsules are also covered with tiny barbs and stick to anything that passes by.

Notes:

The common name Sticky-willy is appropriate—the hooked hairs on leaves, stems and fruit grab onto anything that brush by, mostly shoelaces, socks and pant legs. A similar species is Rough Bedstraw (Galium asprellum), which is much more heavily branched, has shorter leaves whorled in 4 to (mostly) 6, smooth fruit, more flowers in a cluster, and is primarily a wetland species