Sherardia

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iSherardia arvensis

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Sherardia L.
Species: S. arvensis
Binomial name
Sherardia arvensis
L.

Sherardia arvensis, also known as Field Madder, is a flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae, native to Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia. It is the only species in the genus Sherardia, but is closely related to the genus Galium, the bedstraws.

It is an annual plant growing to 30-40 cm tall, with small bristly leaves 5-10 mm long, borne in whorls of six. The flowers are pale violet or pink, about 3 mm in diameter. It is sometimes considered a weed.