Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

Home ⟩ Pictorial Guide ⟩ Rubiaceae ⟩ Sherardia arvensis / field madder

Sherardia arvensis L.

field madder (Rubiaceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadSlight tendencySE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Sherardia arvensis is a procumbent annual of drought-prone grasslands and sand dunes.

Oxford (VC23: Oxfordshire); 2018-05-12

 field madder / Sherardia arvensis: _Sherardia arvensis_ is a procumbent annual of drought-prone grasslands and sand dunes.

The pink colour of the flowers of Sherardia arvensis help separate it from the white-flowering genus Galium (with the exception of the rare Galium parisiense).

Basingstoke (VC12: North Hampshire); 2014-05-30

 field madder / Sherardia arvensis: The pink colour of the flowers of _Sherardia arvensis_ help separate it from the white-flowering genus _Galium_ (with the exception of the rare _Galium parisiense_).

The stem of Sherardia arvensis is covered in slightly backward-pointing hairs.

Basingstoke (VC12: North Hampshire); 2014-05-30

 field madder / Sherardia arvensis: The stem of _Sherardia arvensis_ is covered in slightly backward-pointing hairs.

The fruits of Sherardia arvensis (seen here with leaves of Convolvulus arvensis) are paired nutlets.

Marsworth (VC24: Buckinghamshire); 2016-07-04

 field madder / Sherardia arvensis: The fruits of _Sherardia arvensis_ (seen here with leaves of _Convolvulus arvensis_) are paired nutlets.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne