Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Metachlamydeae

Rubiaceae - Coffee family

Literature

Bridson, D.M. (1998) Rubiaceae, Part 2 FZ 5(2)

Bridson, D.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2003) Rubiaceae, Part 3 FZ 5(3)

Verdcourt, B. (1988) Rubiaceae, Part 1 FZ 5(1)

Description of the family

Trees, shrubs, annual or perennial herbs or climbers. Leaves simple, opposite or in whorls, entire.

Stipules present, usually interpetiolar, less often intrapetiolar, entire or (in some herbaceous genera) with lobes or fimbriae. [Note that in the species of tribe Rubieae (the genera Galium, Rubia and Sherardia in Zimbabwe) the distinction between leaves and stipules breaks down and there are whorls of similar leaf-like objects.]

Flowers usually bisexual, rarely unisexual (e.g. in some species of Anthospermum, Catunaregam and Canthium), actinomorphic. Calyx gamosepalous, (3-)4-5(-8)-lobed. Corolla gamopetalous, often with a long tube, (3-)4-5(-11)-lobed. Ovary inferior, of 2-5 or more carpels, usually 2. Fruit a capsule, berry or drupe.

A usually readily recognisable family, even in the vegetative state, from the combination of opposite (or whorled) entire leaves and interpetiolar stipules.

Worldwide: 630 genera and 10,200 species, cosmopolitan, but mainly tropical and warm areas.

Burttdavya nyasica

Links to genera: (72)

GenusContent
Agathisanthemum KlotzschDescription
Aidia Lour.Description
Anthospermum L.Description
Breonadia RidsdaleDescription, Image
Burttdavya HoyleDescription, Image
Canthium Lam.Description
Carphalea Juss.Description
Catunaregam WolfDescription
Cephalanthus L.Description
Chassalia Comm. ex Poir.Description
Chazaliella E.M.A. Petit & Verdc.Description, Image
Coddia Verdc.
Coffea L.Description
Conostomium (Stapf) Cufod.Description
Coptosperma Hook. f.
Craterispermum Benth.Description, Image
Cremaspora Benth.Description, Image
Crossopteryx FenzlDescription
Cuviera DC.
Didymosalpinx KeayDescription
Diodia L.Description, Image
Fadogia Schweinf.Description
Feretia DelileDescription
Galium L.Description, Image
Galopina Thunb.Description
Gardenia EllisDescription, Image
Geophila D. DonDescription, Image
Guettarda L.
Heinsenia K. Schum.Description, Image
Heinsia DC.Description
Hymenodictyon Wall.Description, Image
Hyperacanthus E. Mey. ex Bridson
Ixora L.
Keetia E. PhillipsDescription
Kohautia Cham. & Schltdl.Description
Lagynias E. Mey. ex RobynsDescription, Image
Lasianthus JackDescription, Image
Leptactina Hook. f.Description
Mitriostigma Hochst.
Multidentia Gilli
Mussaenda L.Description
Oldenlandia L.Description
Otiophora Zucc.Description
Otomeria Benth.Description
Oxyanthus DC.Description
Pachystigma Hochst.Description
Paederia L.Description, Image
Pauridiantha Hook. f.Description
Pavetta L.Description
Pentanisia Harv.Description, Image
Pentas Benth.Description
Pentodon Hochst.Description
Phylohydrax PuffDescription
Plectroniella Robyns
Polysphaeria Hook. f.Description
Pseudomussaenda Wernham
Psychotria L.Description, Image
Psydrax Gaertn.Description
Pyrostria Juss.Description, Image
Richardia L.Description, Image
Rothmannia Thunb.Description
Rubia L.Description
Rutidea DC.Description, Image
Rytigynia BlumeDescription
Sericanthe Robbr.Description
Spermacoce L.Description
Tapiphyllum RobynsDescription
Tarenna Gaertn.Image
Triainolepis Hook. f.Description
Tricalysia A. Rich. ex DC.Description
Vangueria Comm. ex Juss.Description
Vangueriopsis RobynsDescription

Other sources of information about Rubiaceae:

Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Rubiaceae page
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Rubiaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar


Copyright: Mark Hyde and Bart Wursten, 2007-10

Hyde, M.A. & Wursten, B. (2010). Flora of Mozambique: Family page: Rubiaceae.
http://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=198, retrieved 3 September 2010

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