Blue Field Madder
Sherardia arvensis L.
Rubiaceae (Madder Family)
▲ young plant, with broader leaves
▲ mature, flowering plant
▲▼ flowers
▲ flowering plant in more shaded area with elongated stems
▲ flowering stem, showing whorled leaves (usually 6 per whorl) and flowers
Blue Field Madder, Field Madder:
· winter annual or summer annual of lawns, cultivated crops, roadsides, streambanks and non-crop areas
· has medium to dark green, somewhat fleshy, pointed leaves in whorls of 4-6; leaves are up to ½” long
· grows 3-24” tall, usually with multiple stems arising from near the base of the plant
· flowers are tiny, pinkish-lavender, in axils of modified terminal leaves
· found in dry to moist sites, open turf, fertile soils
· similar to piedmont bedstraw, but piedmont bedstraw has leaves in whorls of 4, and yellowish green flowers instead of pinkish-lavender