Madder

Madder, tropical and subtropical trees, shrubs, and herbs of the family Rubiaceae, native to northern South America. The family yields economically important crops, e.g., coffee and quinine, and ornamentals, e.g., the gardenia, madder, and bedstraw (used for mattress filling because of its pleasing odor). Also called turkey red, the true madder (rubia tinctorum) of southern Europe was used to create brilliant red dye pigments, now produced artificially.