Sticky Willy

You've got to love a plant that is known as Sticky Willy. It has a lot of 'love' connecting nicknames too, such as hug-me-close and kisses. The burs of Cleavers or Goosegrass (Glalium Aparine), as it is more commonly known are often called sweethearts. In the past, if the burs were thrown at a girl's back and stuck there without her being aware of it, she was said to have had a sweetheart. So why goosegrass? Apparently geese love it. The oldest name is most likely the Anglo-Saxon hedgeheriff, which means hedge rife or robber in the hedge.

In The Kitchen

The seeds make an excellent coffee substitute. In Sweden poorer people made such 'coffee' for generations. Simply dry roast the seeds, grind them in a coffee grinder and brew in a cafetiere. Well, I say simply, the process of roasting such tiny seeds in the oven is rather a labour of love. The plant family Rubiaceae is actually the same as our favourite morning pick me up coffee. The leaves are very tasty, particularly when young so now is a good time to harvest them. They are free addition to a salad and taste rather like pea shoots or you can steam them like any leaf vegetable. Another wartime essential, a free abundant wild food. It also makes a flavoursome and beneficial tea. You can buy dried cleaver leaf herbal tea but why not have a go at making your own? We certainly have an abundant supply of the stuff so get collecting now and hanging bunches of the plant to dry.

Health Benefits

Externally, cleavers can help ease ulcers and wounds. Taken internally, it can assist with lessening the pain of cystitis and bring down a high temperature. It is a tonic for the lymphatic system and an anti-inflammatory. It is also a useful plant for skin conditions such as psoriasis. Culpeper suggested boiling with hogs grease to attack the "kernals in the throat-the King's evil" and that it is the antidote to adder bite. My particular favourite remedy is this: 'it is familiarly taken in broth, to keep them lean and lank that are apt to grow fat'. If you find out that works, patent it NOW. You'll be worth a fortune! The plant is actually used in modern herbal medicine as a treatment for skin cancers, typhus and smallpox.

Magical Uses

Due to its clinging nature, cleavers can be used in binding spells. A natural spring tonic, it's a great addition to spring festivals. Being part of the madder family, the roots apparently make a reddish dye and are said to tint bird's bones if they eat the root. Not sure how to test this one!

As always NEVER ingest a plant that you're not 100% certain that you can identify. In cleavers case, this really shouldn't be much of a problem though. It will probably find you.

We maybe in the grip of an Arctic blast at the moment, but the wild plants are growing apace so enjoy nature's spring bounty whilst its at its tastiest.

With love, Annie x

© Norfolk Psychics 2016

Bibliography

Jordan Michael: A Guide to Wild Plants (Millington Books Ltd, 1976)

Nozedar Adele: The Hedgerow Handbook (Square Peg, 2012)

Vickery Roy: Garlands, Conkers and Mother-Die (Continium, 2010)

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