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Rubia cordifolia - L.

Common Name Indian Madder
Family Rubiaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Amongst scrub in the Himalayas[145]. To 2400 metres in Dehra Dun[158]. Damp wet upland forests in China[147].
Range S. Europe to Africa and Asia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade
Rubia cordifolia Indian Madder


Rubia cordifolia Indian Madder

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Rubia cordifolia is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 6 m (19ft) by 3 m (9ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked. Used as a side dish with rice[61, 177]. It is much esteemed as a lab-lab by the Javanese[46]. Fruit - raw[179]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[200].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Alterative  Anodyne  Antiphlogistic  Antitussive  Astringent  Diuretic  Dysentery  Emmenagogue  
Expectorant  Febrifuge  Styptic  Tonic  Vulnerary

The roots are alterative, anodyne, antiphlogistic, antitussive, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, styptic, tonic and vulnerary[147, 176, 178, 218, 240]. They have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Pneumococci etc[176]. They are used to lower the blood pressure[176]. The roots are used internally in the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, internal and external haemorrhage, bronchitis, rheumatism, stones in the kidney, bladder and gall, dysentery etc[238]. The roots are harvested in the autumn from plants that are at least 3 years old. They are peeled and then dried[238]. The stems are used in Tibetan medicine, where they are considered to have a bitter taste and a cooling potency[241]. Febrifuge, they are used in the treatment of blood disorders and spreading fever of kidneys and intestines[241].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A red dye is obtained from the stems and the root[46, 61, 158]. It is inferior to R. tinctoria, the madder plant[4].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a loose moist leafy soil in some shade[200]. Tolerates dry soils but quickly becomes scorched when growing in full sun[200]. It is possible that the entries on edibility for this plant should apply to R. manjith. Roxb. ex Fleming. (syn R. cordifolia. auct non L.).

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed can be very slow to germinate[200]. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for the first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or at any time in the growing season if the divisions are kept well watered until established[200]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Mongolia, Russian Federation (Amur, Primorye), China (n. to w.), Korea, Japan (Honshu, Kyushu (north)) TROPICAL ASIA: India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines AFRICA: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, South Africa (Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Veronica Bursens   Tue Sep 16 2008

mijn commentaar zeer veel informatie en goed uitgebreid. ben op zoek naar informatie over planten en hun astrologische en planetaire invloeden. mss kent iemand daar een boek of een link over? alvast bedankt

sanjyoti subba   Wed Jan 21 2009

how can we observed the seed of different treatment?1.treatment.2 propagation. 3.morphology.3.harvesting.

www.gmail.com

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Subject : Rubia cordifolia  
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