Field Madder - Sherardia arvensis
Family - Rubiaceae

Field Madder - Sherardia arvensis, click for a larger image, photo licensed for reuse CCASA3.0
Photo ©2005 Strobilomyces
Click photo for a larger image

Widespread annual plant regarded as a weed, growing mostly on waste ground, fields, roadsides and arable areas usually on calcareous soils with a creeping habit.  Common in England and Wales rare otherwise.  Slender prostrate stems to 30cm (12in) long of square section and branched, with oval narrow grey–green leaves covered in prickly hairs, four to six leaves in a radial arrangement along the stem.  Pinkish flowers each about 3–5mm (0.15–0.25in) appearing May to October.

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