Image listed at
Kurt Stüber's Online Library
Actual Images from
Project Runeberg

CLEAVERS

(Goose Grass or Sweetheart Plant)

Latin Name: Galium aparine
Family: Rubiaceae
Height: 30-50cm

Easily identified by its leaves and clinging habit. Cleavers can be found from early spring, growing over other plants or along the ground.

A useful tonic and astringent but the seed pods can get tangled up in long coats and should not be fed.

A plant with a long history of medicinal use, human and veterinary. Particularly valuable in a wide range of problems which involve the lymphatic system and in 'dry skin conditions.

Constituents: Iridoid coumarins including glycoside asperuloside, gallotannic acid, citric acid.

Actions: Diuretic, alterative, anti-inflammatory, tonic, astringent, may inhibit and combat development of tumours.

Sources: Cleavers are included in the Galen's Garden's Hedgerow Herbs blend of 20 different herbs and wild plants.

Cleavers Herb (US) Cleavers Herb Organic (US) Cleavers Liquid Extract (US) Cleavers Herb Powder (US) from Kalyx US