Sticky Willy - inventor of Velcro

A busy day building a raised bed for the garden, at the request of our ever-stiffening backs, and then some grand-parenting. The consequence is a hurried blip from the hedgerow.

Galium aparine is an annual plant native to North America and Eurasia. Hereabouts the plant is commonly known as Sticky Willy but in other places it enjoys a variety of names including Cleavers, Clivers, Goosegrass, Stickyjack, Stickyweed, Stickyleaf, Catchweed, Robin-run-the-hedge, Coachweed, and Bedstraw.

Both the leaves, stems and fruits are covered in fine hairs tipped with tiny hooks, that cause them to cling to the fur of animals and the clothing of humans, much in the manner of Velcro. The hooks have evolved, of course, as a means of exploiting passing animals to help disperse the plant and its seeds to new areas. Isn't Nature just wonderful?