Field Madder (Benbrook Plant Guide (Reduced))

Field Madder

Sherardia arvensis

Summary ⁷

Sherardia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. The genus contains only one species, viz. Sherardia arvensis or (blue) field madder, which is widespread across most of Europe and northern Africa as well as southwest and central Asia (from Turkey to Saudi Arabia to Kazakhstan) and Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, Savage Islands). It is also reportedly naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Kerguelen, Ethiopia, Suda

brief summary ⁸

As opposed to lady's bedstraw, field madder is a fairly rare plant in the Netherlands. It usually germinates in the winter so that it starts to blossom in early summer, continuing through autumn. Like all madder species, the long slender pointed leaves lie in the shape of a star. The lowest group contains four leaves, further up the stem six leaves and at the top eight leaves. Field madder grows mostly in clay and chalky regions. It originated in the Mediterranean Sea region and has since spread throughout Europe and western Asia. Along the Dutch sea coast, it is only found on Texel, Ameland and sea dikes in the delta region. Not everyone is happy with this plant. It is considered a weed by farmers who find it growing among their crops.

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Field Madder

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