Galium sherardia (L.) E.H.L. Krause

Field Madder

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Field Madder is an introduced herbaceous annual in the Madder family (Rubiaceae). It is native to Europe, north Africa, and Asia. In Alabama it can be found statewide. Field Madder occurs in lawns, on roadsides, and in fields. It is an annual with a fibrous root system. The stems are branched at the base, decumbent, and green in color. The stems are 4-angled and pubescent. Leaves are sessile and occur in whorls of 5-6. The leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate in outline with an acute tip. Flowers are produced in axillary fascicles. The fascicles have 2-3 flowers subtended by an involucre composed of a ring of six bracts. The corolla is salverform, 4-lobed, and pink or purple in color. The fruit is a nutlet. The roots of Field Madder can be used to produce a red dye. This species until recently was placed in the monotypic genus Sherardia. It was separated from Gallium based on flower color, flower shape, and by having a bracteate inflorescence.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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