cleavers

Not like the ones you chop up meat with; but the plant! These dandy plants have a trait that some think bad: modified trichomes (little hairs off the epidermis) which like to 'catch' on anything and anyone.

I was out with one of my classes and found some, grabbed them up and hung them on a student. I was surprised how they reacted. THEY LOVED IT! And then took turns 'hanging' the plant on each other! They were in awe on how it clung and didn't fall off.

Many of my fellow students don't love "weeds" like I do.

So I've begun to investigated "cleavers". Galium aparine
These are known by many different names: Goosegrass, Amor De Hortelano, Barweed, Catchweed, Cleavers, Cleavers Goosegrass, Cleever, Clivers, Eriffe, Everlasting Friendship, Gia Mara, Goosebill, Grateron, Grip Grass, Hashishat Al Af'A, Hayriffe, Hayruff, Hedge Clivers, Hedgeheriff, Kaz Yogurtotu, Loveman, Mutton Chops, Robin-run-in-the-Grass, Scratweed, Sticky-willy, Stickywilly, Zhu Yang Yang.

The stems and leaves are covered with little hooked bristles, which attach to passing objects, in this way it fastens itself to adjacent shrubs, to climb its way upwards through dense undergrowth into daylight, often forming matted masses.

Leaves are narrow, lance-shaped and are rough along the margins and surface, the prickles pointing backwards, they occur in whorls of 6 to 8 leaves, around and along the square, delicate, branching stem which may grow to 6 or more feet in length. The flowers are white, tiny, 1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter and star-like, growing in a stemmed bud rising from the leaf axils and arranged in clusters or whorls, six or eight together, blooming separately, 2 or 3 at a time, so flowers and seeds are present in each cluster.

The seeds are little round vessels, covered with hooked bristles and readily clinging, to whatever they touch, ensuring dispersal of the seeds. Note: Some species produce only 2 or 3 flowers and seeds to a cluster. Flowers bloom April thru Sept. Gather the above ground plant, being careful not to gather whatever it touches. Dry for later herb use, should be picked through before drying to ensure herb is contaminant free.

The seeds can be roasted for a coffee substitute. The plant used as a pot herb; it can be ate raw, but some feel it is not good that way. (must be those little hooked hairs)

It also seems to have a slimming effect, so I'm going to try this out. Just not quite sure exactly when or how I'll do that... more research is needed!

Well that's the info I've found so far...