Madder

Rubia L.

Madder is a plant with small, star-shaped flowers that can be used to make red dye. It grows low to the ground and is loved by butterflies for its sweet nectar.

Hábitat: Desert

Aspecto

The Madder is a scrambling plant with rough, lance-shaped leaves arranged in whorls around square stems. It produces tiny, star-shaped, greenish-yellow flowers in summer, followed by small black berries. Its stems and leaves are covered in hooked prickles, helping it cling and climb.

ReinoPlantaeFiloTracheophytaClaseMagnoliopsidaOrdenGentianalesFamiliaRubiaceaeGéneroRubia

Madder

Categoría

Plantas

Rareza

Common

Peligro

2/5 · Bajo

Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Ancient Egyptians used madder to dye mummy wrappings a deep reddish-brown color!

Madder berries turn a dark, shiny black, looking like tiny beads on the plant!

Roman soldiers would sometimes color their cloaks with madder dye to show their rank.

The bright red dye from madder was once more valuable than gold in some places!

Habilidades especiales

Madder has special chemicals in its roots that create vibrant red and orange dyes used to color fabrics for thousands of years.

Its square stems and rough leaves have tiny, hooked prickles that help it scramble over other plants to reach sunlight.

Madder can grow deep roots that help it find and absorb water even in dry, rocky soils where other plants struggle.

Medidas y detalles

Altura: 50-150 cm
Extensión: 30-100 cm
Tamaño de la flor: 0.2-0.5 cm
Temporada de floración: Verano
Comestible: No
Toxicidad: Leve
Ciclo de vida: Perenne
Método de polinización: Insectos

Conexiones ecológicas

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Helps madder flowers make seeds.

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen.

eaten by

Common Blackbird

Turdus merula

Feeds on madder's small black berries, spreading seeds.

Rasgos

Caducifolio

Las plantas caducifolias pierden periódicamente todas sus hojas, por lo general durante el otoño o las estaciones secas.

Flor fragante

Las flores fragantes emiten un aroma agradable, a menudo para atraer polinizadores o como defensa.

Medicinal

Las plantas medicinales poseen compuestos químicos que pueden utilizarse con fines terapéuticos para tratar enfermedades o mantener la salud.

Tinte natural

Este rasgo de uso humano indica especies de las cuales se pueden extraer tintes naturales para colorear textiles, alimentos u otros materiales.

Desierto

Los hábitats desérticos son regiones áridas caracterizadas por precipitaciones extremadamente bajas y, a menudo, temperaturas extremas, que albergan una flora y fauna especializadas.