Rubia
Quick facts for kids Rubia |
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| Rubia tinctorum | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Rubia |
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| Rubia tinctorum |
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Rubia is a special group of flowering plants, often called madder. These plants are famous for their roots, which have been used for thousands of years to create a beautiful red dye.
Contents
Discovering Rubia: The Madder Plant
The Rubia group includes about 80 different kinds of plants. Most of these are herbs or subshrubs that like to scramble or climb. They are found naturally in parts of Asia, Europe, and Africa. Some well-known types include Rubia tinctorum (common madder), Rubia peregrina (wild madder), and Rubia cordifolia (Indian madder).
How Madder Makes Red
For a very long time, Rubia plants were super important for making red colors. People in Asia, Europe, and Africa used them a lot. The red color comes from a special chemical found in the plant's roots called alizarin. This is the magic ingredient that creates the vibrant red color. This natural dye was used to color textiles, like cloth and yarn. It was also used as a colourant for paints, creating a shade known as Madder lake. Later, scientists learned how to make alizarin artificially. This meant people didn't need to grow as many madder plants for dye anymore.
Madder in Ancient Civilizations
Madder plants have a long and interesting history. People have been growing them for their red dye since ancient times.
In Europe, India, and East Asia, different types of Rubia were grown a lot until the mid-1800s. Cloth dyed with madder has even been found with Egyptian mummies! Ancient writers like Herodotus and Pliny also wrote about madder. They described how it was used to dye clothes in places like Libya and Caria. Countries like France and the Netherlands were big growers of madder. However, once artificial alizarin was invented, the need for natural madder plants decreased.
Madder and Modern Science
In the past, people thought madder might have medicinal uses. For example, Pliny believed it could help with certain health issues. However, scientists today don't recognize any specific medical benefits from madder.
Interesting facts about Rubia
- The name Rubia even comes from a Latin word, ruber, which means "red"!
- Rubia belongs to the same plant family as coffee!
- Scientists noticed that if animals ate madder, their bones would turn red! This happens because a chemical in madder sticks to the calcium phosphate in bones.
- In countries like Georgia and Armenia, people use Rubia to dye Easter eggs a bright red color. It's a beautiful way to celebrate!
