Madder

a dye plant of the bed-straw family. It has a weak, four-angled stem with whorls of prickly leaves, and small, greenish flowers succeeded by black fruit. Madder is a native of the warmer parts of Europe and Asia, where it is still cultivated. Commercial madder comes from Holland, France, Italy, and Turkey. The plants are started from cuttings set in rows like beans, and are allowed to grow two seasons. The roots are lifted in the autumn with a fork. They are washed, dried carefully, and freed from the outer skin by beating. They are ground into a powder or are sent to market in bales. Madder dye gives the famous Turkey red admired in oriental countries. It is well known also to the Greeks. The historical red of the French and British military uniforms is a madder dye. By the skillful use of a mordant, madder colors of great variety are produced, ranging from pink, through red and yellow, to purple and brown. Madder is the most important vegetable dyestuff known in the arts. Of late aniline red obtained by the distillation of coal tar has supplanted natural madder in part. See also INDIGO; DYEING; ANILINE.