Field Madder - introduced (*Sherardia arvensis)

Family: Rubiaceae (coprosma, bedstraw family)

Native of Europe

Occurrence: A widespread weed, often in disturbed areas.

Identification:

• it is a sprawling annual plant
the flowers are bright pink to lilac
• the stems are square
• the leaves are distinctly wider in the middle
• the leaves come to a point and are in rings around the stem
• the flowers are clustered and surrounded by six leaves (bracts) that resemble the stem leaves.

Photos: Field Madder. Mt Alexander and Taradale.