Texas
Wildbuds

Sherardia arvensis

(Field Madder)

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Sherardia arvensis, Brazos Bend State Park, Ft. Bend Co. 7180

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Sherardia arvensis, St. Edward’s Park, Austin, Travis Co. 1415

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Sherardia arvensis, Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, Washington Co. 2731

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Sherardia arvensis, Westminster Glen, Austin, Travis Co. 8508

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Sherardia arvensis, Martin Creek Lake State Park, Rusk Co. 5843

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Sherardia arvensis, Westminster Glen, Austin, Travis Co. 8570

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Sherardia arvensis, Brazos Bend State Park, Ft. Bend Co. 7174

Scientific Name Sherardia arvensis USDA PLANTS Symbol SHAR2
Common Name Field Madder ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 35237
Family Rubiaceae (Madder) SEINet
Reference
Click Here
Description Habitat: Fields, thickets and roadsides; introduced from Eurasia.
Plant: Sprawling or prostrate annual with simple or branched stems 3 to 14 inches long often rooting at nodes.
Leaves: In whorls of five or six, stalkless, linear to narrowly elliptic blades 1/4 to 3/4 inches long with a sharply pointed tip; mostly smooth except for prickles along margins.
Inflorescence: Terminal heads of 2 or 3 (up to 8) tiny pink or pale-lilac tubular flowers with 4 or 5 flared lobes spreading to about 1/8 inch across; 4 or 5 stamens and protruding style with two stigma; 4 to 6 triangular-lanceolate sepals; involucre below with 8 to 10 leaf-like bracts.
Bloom Period: March to May.
References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map

Galium sherardia
Map Color Key
Texas Status:
Introduced

Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2024