Re: Old Man's Beard

David Field wrote:
My books on South African plants refer to Old Man's Beard as being the
species Galium tomentosum (Rubiaceae).
 
This plant is described as a clinging creeper that can easily cover an
entire tree.  Each leaf has a very small recurved spine on
its tip which grips fingers and clothes alike.  Flowers minute.  Seed
fairly large, round black fruit.  Used medicinally,
especially for sore backs.  Not grazed.

Thanks David for this identification.

Once again we are confused by the imprecision of common names. The only
"Old Man's beard " which I knew of previously was the totally unrelated
Clematis vitalba, which is a serious and proscribe weed in NZ bush, 
where it can smother whole hectares of natural growth if not dealt to
quickly and costs a great deal to eradicate.

At least with our now fairly draconian import control in NZ there is
little chance of tbis other "Old Man's Beard" coming here to haunt us. 

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ.     Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
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