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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

 

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