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Reference · Crops

Madder family

Common madder (Rubia tinctorum) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Rubiaceae family. Historically, it is the most significant species of the genus used as a source of red dye, extracted from the roots and rhizomes, and widely utilized in traditional and modern medicine.

Main sections

Gaertnera6 Feretia2 Fleroya2 Galianthe2 Fernelia1 Field madder1 Galiniera1
518 sections

What the section contains

Fen bedstraw Galium uliginosum Fen bedstraw Galium elongatum Feretia Feretia 2 items Fernelia Fernelia 1 item Field madder Sherardia 1 item Fleroya Fleroya 2 items Gaertnera Gaertnera 6 items Galianthe Galianthe 2 items Galiniera Galiniera 1 item Galium anisophyllon Galium anisophyllon Galium aristatum Galium aristatum Galium asperifolium Galium asperifolium Galium baldense Galium baldense Galium belizianum Galium belizianum Galium bracteatum Galium bracteatum Galium broterianum Galium broterianum Galium canescens Galium canescens Galium canum Galium canum Galium cassium Galium cassium Galium cespitosum Galium cespitosum Galium chaetopodum Galium chaetopodum Galium cometerhizon Galium cometerhizon Galium concatenatum Galium concatenatum Galium ephedroides Galium ephedroides Galium estebanii Galium estebanii Galium firmum Galium firmum Galium geminiflorum Galium geminiflorum Galium ghilanicum Galium ghilanicum Galium hoffmeisteri Galium hoffmeisteri Galium humifusum Galium humifusum Galium hypocarpium Galium hypocarpium Galium idubedae Galium idubedae Galium incanum Galium incanum Galium judaicum Galium judaicum Galium kinuta Galium kinuta Galium marchandii Galium marchandii Galium margaritaceum Galium margaritaceum Galium megalospermum Galium megalospermum Galium montis-arerae Galium montis-arerae Galium neglectum Galium neglectum Galium niewerthii Galium niewerthii Galium obliquum Galium obliquum Galium papillosum Galium papillosum Galium paradoxum Galium paradoxum Galium philistaeum Galium philistaeum Galium pisiferum Galium pisiferum Galium productum Galium productum Galium propinquum Galium propinquum Galium pseudoaristatum Galium pseudoaristatum Galium pusillum Galium pusillum Galium rhodopeum Galium rhodopeum Galium rubioides Galium rubioides Galium schmidii Galium schmidii Galium talaveranum Galium talaveranum Galium tendae Galium tendae Galium tenuissimum Galium tenuissimum Galium truniacum Galium truniacum Galium valdepilosum Galium valdepilosum Galium viscosum Galium viscosum Galium volhynicum Galium volhynicum

Madder family

The plant is native to the warmer regions of Europe, the Mediterranean, and Central Asia. In agricultural practice, it is cultivated in areas that provide long, sunny growing seasons, which are essential for the maturation of the roots and the accumulation of primary metabolites, such as alizarin and purpurin.

The plant features a four-angled stem that can reach significant lengths, covered with tiny, downward-pointing prickles. Its leaves are whorled, and it produces small, yellowish-green flowers in terminal panicles. The root system is deep-reaching, consisting of fleshy, reddish rhizomes that are harvested after 2–3 years of growth.

Cultivation requires well-drained, sandy loam soils that are rich in calcium, as the plant is sensitive to acidic environments. Proper field management involves deep tillage to allow root penetration and the maintenance of optimal soil moisture. While robust, the crop requires careful weed management during the establishment phase, as young plants compete poorly.

Common madder is primarily used in the pharmaceutical industry to support renal health and in eco-friendly textile industries for fabric dyeing. Common issues include:

  • Root rot caused by excessive soil moisture.
  • Infestations of aphids and mites during hot, dry weather.
  • Fungal leaf spots during periods of high humidity.

Success in commercial production depends heavily on the harvest timing, which should occur in late autumn to ensure maximum concentration of bioactive compounds in the root tissue.