Galium spurium var.
echinospermon is an annual or biennial herb that inhabits
tussocks or wastelands near villages. Stems are somewhat soft but
have 4-ridges with downward prickles and grow to 60-90cm in length.
Leaves are in whorls of 6-8, each 1-3cm long, 1.5-4mm wide,
broad-linear, or narrow-oblanceolate, with prickles on tips and
spines facing backward on margins and also on backside midribs. Two
out of 6-8 leaves are genuine, and the other 4-6 are stipules -
though looking the same. Stem tips or axils bear inflorescences that
set small yellow-green flowers. Corollas are cleft in four, and
stamens are four in number. Bloom time: May-June. |