Rubia tinctorum | |
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Rubia tinctorum flowers | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Rubiaceae |
Tribe: | Rubieae |
Genus: | Rubia |
Species: | R. tinctorum |
Binomial name | |
Rubia tinctorum L. |
Rubia tinctorum, the common madder or dyer's madder, is a plant species in the genus Rubia.
The plant's roots contain several polyphenolic compounds like 1,3-Dihydroxyanthraquinone (purpuroxanthin), 1,4-Dihydroxyanthraquinone (quinizarin), 1,2,4-Trihydroxyanthraquinone (purpurin) and 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone (alizarin). This latter gives its red colour to a textile dye known as Rose madder. It was also used as a colourant, especially for paint, that is referred to as Madder lake. The substance was also derived from another species, Rubia cordifolia.