Wild Madder flower

Wild Madder flower

This native perennial plant is about ½–1' tall. It often branches near the base, sending up multiple stems that are little branched and have a tendency to sprawl. The weak stems are sharply four-angled, hairless, and smooth throughout. Along these stems are whorls of 4 sessile leaves; sometimes toward the base of the plant there are whorls of 5 or 6 leaves. These leaves are about 1" long and ¼" across, and tend to angle upward from the stems. They are oblong or slightly oblanceolate, and have a prominent central vein. The leaves are devoid of hairs, although sometimes there are a few ciliate hairs along their outer margins. These ciliate hairs spread outward or toward the tips of the leaves. The stems terminate in an inflorescence consisting of about 1-6 tiny white flowers. These flowers have 4 petals and 4 stamens with black anthers and are about 1/8" across. Underneath the petals, are a pair of orbicular carpels that persist after the petals have fallen. This pair of carpels is about 1/8" across and devoid of hairs. Each carpel contains a round seed. The blooming period occurs from late spring to mid-summer, and lasts about a month. There is no noticeable floral scent. The root system produces rhizomes, which enables the vegetative spread of this plant.