In this third episode, we're diving into Cleavers, also known as Sticky Willy, or Kleefkruid in Dutch: a common weed that sticks to everything, but you can also eat. We explore its family, Rubiaceae, a famly famous for looking like a bird.

We cover how to spot it, how to drink it as a poor man's coffee, why it was useful in making cheese, its connection to Jesus Christ and much much more!

Let's Get Wild!

This podcast is made in collaboration with Kroos Foraging Company. If you are interested in foraging and live in the Netherlands, check out the Kroos website: https://roosvankroos.nl/

All work for the podcast episode, research, hosting and recording is done by Ella Betts.

Sources:

My own Exploration and

https://solarserdar.wordpress.com/2022/04/29/galium-aparine-sticky-willy-by-zeljko-serdar/

Natural_Dye-Yielding_Plants_from_the_Rubiaceae_Fam.pdf

Rubia : Meaning and Origin of First Name | Search Family History on Ancestry®.com

Rubiaceae | Description, Flowering Plants, Characteristics, Species, & Facts | Britannica

The Matter of Madder in the Ancient World | Mummy Portraits of Roman Egypt

https://friendsofedgewood.org/madder-coffee-family

https://bsbi.org/in-your-area/local-botany/co-fermanagh/fermanagh-species-accounts/galium-aparine-l

https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/cleavers-galium-aparine

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/cleavers

https://mgnv.org/plants/glossary/glossary-lanceolate/

https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30007294-2/general-information

https://www.corteva.com/uk/tools-and-advice/weed-biology/cleavers.html

https://wildfoodhuntress.com.au/cleavers

https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/expert-advice/garden-management/weeds/weed-datasheets/cleavers

https://totallywilduk.co.uk/2020/04/29/identify-cleavers/

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Galium+spurium

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Galium+aparine

Ilina, T., Skowrońska, W., Kashpur, N., Granica, S., Bazylko, A., Kovalyova, A., Goryacha, O., & Koshovyi, O. (2020). Immunomodulatory Activity and Phytochemical Profile of Infusions from Cleavers Herb. Molecules, 25(16), 3721. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25163721

Galium aparine and Its Role in Lymphatic Cleansing: A Scientific Review Qadir Mohammadi 1*, Leila Ahmadzadeh-Gavahan 1 , Alireza Aslani-Zakariya *1,3 , Ali Yavari 3 , Mehdi Mohammadi1 1 Exir Research Center, Dr. Qadir Mohammadi's Health Institute, Tabriz, Iran 2 Department of Complementary Medicine, Avicenna International Community College, Georgia 3 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Atatürk University, 25240, Erzurum, Türkiye

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21199-lymphatic-system

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21197-urinary-system

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/cleaverss-therapeutic-uses#bibliography

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/immunotherapy/immunomodulators.html

https://www.verywellhealth.com/cleavers-health-benefits-5084341

Van boven in het wild Zakboek

The Forager’s Almanac Danielle Gallacher

https://guides.nynhp.org/shining-bedstraw/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/12/cleavers-adder-bite-south-uist

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921448824000567

Recipes

https://wildforagingwithcourtney.com/2024/03/04/the-edible-and-medicinal-uses-of-cleavers/

https://elevatedwild.com/elevatedwildblog/cleaver-pasta-recipe

https://www.thefooddoula.co.uk/blogs/the-food-doula-journal/cleavers-the-sticky-spring-herb-you-should-be-eating-right-now

https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/cleavers-aubergine-bake

https://wildwalks-southwest.co.uk/how-to-make-wild-cleaver-coffee/

https://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/blogs/herb-library/cleavers?srsltid=AfmBOoq9WwvELbnqPHe1IPk7zdIFxWGHKQfApKrxvVASJeypRcyMe3BS

Join me, your new host, Ella Betts, on the Wildpluk podcast. A podcast in English exploring edible plants, berries, mushrooms, and more. In this debut episode, we dive into the Malva family, starting with common mallow (Malva sylvestris), a widespread "weed" packed with medicinal properties, from soothing sore throats to anti-inflammatory benefits. Learn how to identify it in the wild, harvest and cook it (leaves, flowers, roots, and seeds!), and discover centuries of folklore linking mallow to love, protection, and healing. Plus, stick around for a surprising twist: one of Mallow's relatives has a sweet secret connecting it to a treat you may not expect. For beginners to experts, and full of history. Join me for a culinary walk in Nature.

This podcast is made in collaboration with Kroos Foraging Company. If you are interested in foraging and live in the Netherlands, check out the Kroos website: https://roosvankroos.nl/

Credits:

Music by

Oleksii Holubiev from Pixabay

Siarhei Korbut from Pixabay

Leigh Robinson from Pixabay

Sabado Ferrari from Pixabay

Victory Day from Pixabay

Yasuko n from Pixabay

Jakob Welik from Pixabay

Sound Effect Birds

by freesound_community from Pixabay

Sound Effect Danger by

Mike Cole from Pixabay

Research Sources:

https://www.wildbotanica.co.nz/blogs/articles/mallow

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/mucilaginous

Why Is Okra Slimy? » ScienceABC

https://friendsofedgewood.org/mallow-family

https://www.ewalia.com/en/ewalia-magic-tips/marsh-mallow

Marsh-mallow | NVBT

Common Mallow | NVBT

Dwarf Mallow | NVBT

https://ethnobotany.org/home/education/our-favorite-plants/common-mallow-malva-neglecta-tessa-thompson.html

Latin Definition for: silvestris, silvestris, silvestre (ID: 35057) - Latin Dictionary and Grammar Resources - Latdict

Malva species: Insights on its chemical composition towards pharmacological applications

https://www.thymewilltell.com/mallows.html

Dental calculus: recent insights into occurrence, formation, prevention, removal and oral health effects of supragingival and subgingival deposits - PubMed

Ethnobotanical and scientific aspects of Malva sylvestris L.: a millennial herbal medicine - Gasparetto - 2012 - Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology - Wiley Online Library

ANTI-ULCEROGENIC EFFICACY AND MECHANISMS OF EDIBLE AND NATURAL INGREDIENTS IN NSAID-INDUCED ANIMAL MODELS - PMC

Stomach Ulcer: Signs, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Antioxidants Explained in Simple Terms

Anticancer - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Pressure Wounds and Skin Integrity Issues

Definition of anti-inflammatory agent - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms - NCI

Melokheya: A Taste of Ancient Egypt – cultures capsules

Mallow – Health Information Library | PeaceHealth

The Traditional and Modern Uses of Mallow

https://foragerchef.com/common-mallow-plants-cheeseweed/

Common mallow | Plant-Lore

Malvidin From Malva sylvestris L. Ameliorates Allergic Responses in Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Rhinitis Mouse Model via the STAT6/GATA3 Pathway - Luo Yirui, Li Tao, Liu Ruowu, Zhou Jiao, Zhou Jing, Xu Xiaodong, Yan Yan, Claus Bachert, Du Jintao, Ba Luo, 2024

Poultice: How to Make Your Own Herbal Anti-Inflammatory Paste

Mallow Uses and Plant Profile

Het Grote WildPluk Boek – Edwin Flores

Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) Identification Guide –

Common mallow - Agricultural Biology

Malva sylvestris

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwinv9XBuK-VAxV2nf0HHXMFI4kQFnoECBwQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fseedidguide.idseed.org%2Ffact_sheets%2F32284%2F&usg=AOvVaw24C6a1Z__fHXuFRakBErNY&opi=89978449

The Wild Wisdom of Weeds, Katrina Blair

Common Mallow, Malva sylvestris - Flowers - NatureGate

https://www.learningherbs.com/blog/mallow-uses#gsc.tab=0

https://worldpermacultureassociation.com/common-mallow-a-love-potion-weed/

https://www.tragicbeautiful.com/blogs/book-of-spells/mallow

Celt | History, Institutions, & Religion | Britannica

History of the Marshmallow | Campfire Marshmallows

Marshmallows - NCA