Notes For Reference:-　

Species, Varieties, or Forms in the Genus Galium:

Galium_gracilens_/_Himeyotsubamugura
Galium_japonicum_/_Kurumamugura
Galium_kamtschaticum var. acutifolium_/_Oobanoyotsubamugura
Galium_kikumugura_/_Kikumugura
Galium_kinuta_/_Kinutasou
Galium_odorata_/_Kurumabasou
Galium_spurium_var. echinospermon /_Yaemugura
Galium_trachyspermum_/_Yotsubamugura
Galium_trifloriforme_/_Okukurumamugura
Galium_trifidum ssp. colombianum_/_Hosobanoyotsubamugura
Galium_verum ssp. asiaticum_/_Kibanakawaramatsuba
Galium_verum ssp. asiaticum f. lacteum_/_Kawaramatsuba
　

Galium spurium var. echinospermon / Yaemugura ヤエムグラ

Galium spurium var. echinospermon is an annual or biennial herb that inhabits tussocks or wastelands near villages. Stems are somewhat soft but have four ridges with downward-pointing prickles, growing to 60-90cm long. 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 backside midribs. Two out of 6-8 leaves are genuine, and the other 4-6 are stipules, though they look the same. Stem tips or axils bear inflorescences that set small yellow-green flowers. Corollas are cleft into four, and stamens are four in number. Bloom time: May-June.