The common name “Cleavers” refers to the way these plants stick to clothing or animal hair. The stems are covered with downward-facing prickles that serve two purposes. First, they discourage hungry little critters from crawling upwards. Second, they stick to passing animals and people, so that, when the plant has gone to seed, it will break off, and the seeds will be distributed somewhere else after the broken stem has hitched a ride. These plants were blooming in Bird Park in Mount Lebanon.
For a description of the species, see the Galium aparine reference page.
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