Seasonal Wild Flowers

Latin name

Sherardia arvensis

Family

Rubiaceae

Flowering season

May to September

English distribution

It is found throughout the country but is less common in

the North.

See the BSBI distribution map for Field Madder

Habitat

It grows in dry grasslands, cliffs and sand dunes, and as a

weed in arable fields, waste ground, cracks in pavements, 

verges and lawns.

Description

Field Madder is a native, annual, prostrate herb growing

up to 40cm.

Flowers are in terminal flowerheads with between 4 and 10

flowers per head.

There is a ring uf up to 10 leaf-like bracts at the base of

the flowerhead.

Flowers are made up of 4 fused petals which form a tube

with 4 lobes.

They are up to 5mm across and pale pink to mauve.

There are 4 spreading stamens.

There is a white, bifid style with capitate stigmas.

The fruit comprises 2 nutlets with the remains of the

calyx on top.

Lower leaves are in whorls of 4 and are ovate to lanceolate,

dark green and slightly prickly.

Upper leaves are in whorls of 6 and are more lanceolate.

The stems are square, green and prickly.