Gallium is an annual plant spreading from 1.2-3m wide. It has a slender 4-angled stems and narrow leaves that can reach up to 7cm long. They are arranged in whorls of 6-8 around the stem. The whole plant is covered in very small hooked hair which gives it the ability to cling to skin, fur or clothing. It is a plant's way of distributing the seeds which is very efficient. Its flowers are very small and consist of 4-petalled tubes, which then develop into small round fruits.
A curious fact about Goosegrass is that because the whole plant is edible, though not particularly tasty, in China, for example, it is eaten as a vegetable. Its seeds can be roasted to prepare a sort of coffee substitute.
I found this species growing in a wild in the Fletcher Moss Park, it was covered under a thick blanket of autumn leaves. There were few fruits left that looked quite dried out by this time however the plant in general was bright green and fresh.
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