Galium uliginosum L.

Perennial; stems weak, slender, 4-angled, to c. 30 cm long, densely retrorsely scabrid. Lvs and stipules in whorls of 4 or 6, sessile or subsessile, 3–9 × 0.7–2 mm excluding terminal awn, smaller in some uppermost axils, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate or oblanceolate, shining above; margins retrorsely scabrid, revolute; midrib below glabrous or sparsely scabrid; apex sharply acute or mucronate. Cymes with up to 8 fls, terminal or in uppermost axils, glabrous; peduncles to c. 8 mm long; pedicels < peduncles, slightly divaricating at fruiting; bracts leaflike, the upper c. 1/2 length of normal lvs and stipules. Corolla c. 2 mm diam., white; lobes oblong-ovate, acute or mucronulate. Mature mericarps not seen, but young mericarps glabrous and rugulose.

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

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.