Rubia cordifolia, known as Indian madder,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae.

The flowers appear from August to September, followed by small (4–6 mm diameter) red to black berries from October to November.

[citation needed] Rubia cordifolia was the source of an economically important red pigment in many regions of Asia, Europe and Africa.

The invention of a synthesized duplicate, an anthracene compound called alizarin, greatly reduced demand for the natural derivative.

[4] The roots of Rubia cordifolia are also the source of a medicine used in Ayurveda; this is commonly known in Ayurvedic Sanskrit as Manjistha (or Manjista or Manjishta) and the commercial product in Hindi as Manjith.