Sticky-willy (Galium aparine): white Minnesota wildflowers

Sticky-willy

Plant Info
Also known as:	Cleavers, Catchweed Bedstraw, Goose-grass
Scientific name:	Galium aparine
Family:	Madder (Rubiaceae)
Life cycle:	annual
Origin:	native
Habitat:	shade to part sun; moist woods, thickets
Bloom season:	spring to early summer
Plant height:	4 to 40 inches
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park Long Lake Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Flower:: Flowers are in groups of 2 to 5 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. Individual leaves are narrow, ¾ to 3½ inches long and less than ½ inch wide, broadest towards the tip. The leaf tip is sharply pointed and it may look like a spine. 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. The stem is weak so the plant often sprawls across the ground, or climbs up other plants.
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:: Beware of walking through the woods when Sticky-willy goes to seed. The little balls will stick to your clothing and are really hard to remove. A similar species is Rough Bedstraw (G. asprellum), which is much more heavily branched than Sticky-willy, and has smooth fruit.

More white wildflowers. Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN June 2006 and May 2007

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?