Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Metachlamydeae: Gentianales

Rubiaceae - Coffee family

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

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

Verdcourt, B. (1988) Rubiaceae, Part 1 Flora Zambesiaca 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.

Comment: 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.

Mozambique: 82 genera and 383 taxa.

Burttdavya nyasica

Links to genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

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

Other sources of information about Rubiaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Rubiaceae
Flora of Caprivi: Rubiaceae
Flora of Malawi: Rubiaceae
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Rubiaceae
Flora of Zambia: Rubiaceae
Flora of Zambia: cultivated Rubiaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Rubiaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Rubiaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Rubiaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Rubiaceae
Wikipedia: Rubiaceae


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-23

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2023). Flora of Mozambique: Family page: Rubiaceae.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=198, retrieved 27 March 2023

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