Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures ( Vines ), 0 by htop

htop wrote:
Catchweed Bedstraw, Sticky Willy, Goose Grass, Cleavers (Galium aparine), Rubiaceae Family, Texas native, annual, blooms in early spring to early summer, considered a noxious weed by some

This plant will stick to almost anything including socks, other clothing, pets, etc. It is classified as a vine (has small white blooms), but without support it rambles over other plants as well as anything in its path. Although this plant is a very fast grower snd is considered an invasive weed, as an herb it is used as a dried extract (capsules and powders), in herbal teas and even eaten raw. When researching this plant, I was amazed at how many ailments it is supposed to relieve. One of the many, many common names for it is "angelic root" because the root of the plant has medicinal uses as well as the rest of the plant parts. It is listed on the labels of herbal remedies as "cleavers".

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/53011/index.html

Cleavers is actually a very pretty plant especially when it has something to help prop it up such as the chainlink fence in this photo. Its foliage is such a refreshing green and its leaf arrangement is nice. I find it to be easily pulled and I do so before the seeds are made.