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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

Psychotria41 Randia8 Rothmannia7 Psydrax6 Richardia6 Sabicea5 Posoqueria3 Rytigynia3 Sherbournia3 Simira3 Plocama2 Pogonopus2 Portlandia2 Pyrostria2 Rondeletia2 Rudgea2 Sericanthe2 Pinckneya1 Plectroniella1 Polysphaeria1
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What the section contains

Pinckneya Pinckneya 1 item Plectroniella Plectroniella 1 item Plocama Plocama 2 items Pogonopus Pogonopus 2 items Polysphaeria Polysphaeria 1 item Pomeranian bedstraw Galium pomeranicum Porterandia Porterandia 1 item Portlandia Portlandia 2 items Posoqueria Posoqueria 3 items Prismatomeris Prismatomeris 1 item Psathura Psathura 1 item Pseudo-Helvetic Bedstraw Galium pseudohelveticum Pseudopyxis Pseudopyxis 1 item Psychotria Psychotria 41 item Psydrax Psydrax 6 items Pterogaillonia Pterogaillonia 1 item Pygmaeothamnus Pygmaeothamnus 1 item Pyrenean bedstraw Galium pyrenaicum Pyrostria Pyrostria 2 items Ramosmania Ramosmania 1 item Randia Randia 8 items Red bedstraw Galium rubrum Reiser's bedstraw Galium reiseri Relbunium Relbunium 1 item Richardia Richardia 6 items Riodocea Riodocea 1 item River bedstraw Galium rivale Rondeletia Rondeletia 2 items Rothmannia Rothmannia 7 items Rough bedstraw Galium scabrum Rough-seeded bedstraw Galium trachyspermum Round-leaved bedstraw Galium rotundifolium Rubia agostinhoi Rubia agostinhoi Rubia argyi Rubia argyi Rubia cordifolia Rubia cordifolia Rubia jesoensis Rubia jesoensis Rubia tatarica Rubia tatarica Rubia tenuifolia Rubia tenuifolia Rudgea Rudgea 2 items Rustia Rustia 1 item Rytigynia Rytigynia 3 items Sabicea Sabicea 5 items Samuelsson's bedstraw Galium samuelssonii Sand bedstraw Galium arenarium Saprosma Saprosma 1 item Schultes' bedstraw Galium intermedium Sea bedstraw Galium maritimum Sea crosswort Crucianella maritima Sericanthe Sericanthe 2 items Serissa Serissa Serissa japonica Serissa japonica Sherbournia Sherbournia 3 items Shining bedstraw Galium lucidum Short-stalked coffee Coffea brevipes Shrubby madder Rubia fruticosa Simira Simira 3 items Sinai bedstraw Galium sinaicum Singaporandia Singaporandia 1 item Sipanea Sipanea 1 item Slender bedstraw Galium divaricatum

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.