Rubia tinctorum, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 38

4. R. tinctorum L. , Sp. Pl. 109 (1753)

(inch R. iberica (Fischer ex DC.) C. Koch ).

Stem up to 100 cm, climbing. Leaves 20-100 x 5-25 mm, in whorls of 4-6, lanceolate or oblongelliptical, light green, with prominent lateral veins beneath. Cymes 5-30 cm, many-flowered, exceeding the leaves. Corolla 5-6 mm in diameter, pale yellow; lobes c. 3 mm, acuminate; anthers 0-5-0-6 mm, linear-oblong. Hedges, thickets and waste places. Formerly cultivated for the dye (madder) extracted from its roots', widely naturalized in S. and C. Europe, and perhaps native in the E. Mediterranean region. *A1 *Cr *Gr *It *Ju *Si ♦Tu [Au BI Bu Cz Ga Ge He Ho Hs Hu Lu Sa]. (IF. & C. Asia).