Blue Field Madder

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 1/2" 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