Galium mollugo L.

Sprawling perennial, glabrous or nearly so, with stout rootstock; stems ± 4-angled, lax, to 30 cm long, longer amongst tall vegetation; branches few, occasionally with patent hairs. Lvs and stipules in whorls of 6, sessile, 4–20 × 1.5–5 mm, sometimes smaller in uppermost axils, oblanceolate to obovate or elliptic, dull, glabrous except for scabridulous or occasionally ciliate, slightly revolute margins; apex mucronate. Infl. an oblong or ovoid, lax, glabrous panicle of many terminal and axillary, divaricately-branched, few-flowered cymes; pedicels < than peduncles; bracts often very reduced, except near base. Corolla (1.7)–2–3 mm diam., white; lobes ovate-oblong, mucronate. Mericarps 0.8–1.5 mm long, ± broad-reniform, rugulose.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Mar.