Scrambling annual; stems coarse, to 1 m long, with small retrorse prickles along ridges, otherwise glabrous. Leaves and stipules subsessile, c. equal, in whorls of 6–8, oblanceolate, 10–50 mm long, 1–4 mm wide, acute to cuspidate, upper surface glabrous, lower surface sometimes with tiny prickles on midrib, margins with tiny retrorse prickles. Inflorescences mostly 3-flowered, not exceeding whorls; peduncles to 1.5 cm long; pedicels 1–8 mm long. Corolla to 1.5–2.5 mm diam., white. Fruit depressed-globose, 3–4 mm long; mericarps broad-reniform to hemispherical, loosely attached to each other, usually densely covered with tubercles or papillae. Flowers Sep.–Jan.
MuM, Wim, VVP, GipP, CVU. Also naturalised WA, SA, NSW. Native of northern Africa, central Asia, and Europe. An uncommon weed of cultivated land and other disturbed sites.
Source:
Jeanes, J.A. (1999). Rubiaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 616–642. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
