Galium aparinoides Forssk.

Scrambling perennial herb up to 1.8–2.1 m. long; stems usually densely covered with small prickles but otherwise mostly glabrous, less often ± hairy; roots said to contain a red dye.. Leaves and stipules in whorls of (4–)6(–7); blades narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, 0.4–3 cm. long, (0.5–)3–8 mm. wide, with an apical acumen 0.5–1.5 mm. long, cuneate at the base, sparsely hairy on both surfaces, particularly when young and with close recurved prickles on margins and midnerve beneath.. Cymes lateral, several-flowered, 2.3–4.5 cm. long; pedicels 0.1–1.8 mm. long.. Calyx-tube subglobose, (0.3–)0.5–0.9 mm. long, 0.7–1.5 mm. wide, appearing glabrous.. Corolla brownish red to dark purple-brown or greenish, flushed brownish or purple, less often reported to be green, yellowish or white, 3–4(–6) mm. wide; tube 0.5–0.7 mm. long; lobes narrowly triangular, 1.4–1.7 mm. long, 1–1.2 mm. wide, with a long acumen 0.5–1 mm. long, making the total length usually ± 2.5 mm.. Fruits with cocci 1.5–3 mm. in diameter, black, sparsely clothed with short white hooked hairs ± 0.5 mm. long.

It is a tropical plant. In East Africa it grows between 1,680-3,600 m above sea level.