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. 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.

Zimbabwe: 68 genera and 230 taxa.

Fadogia ancylantha

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
Anthospermum L.Description, Image
Breonadia RidsdaleDescription, Image
Bullockia (Bridson) Razafim., Lantz & B. Bremer Image
Canthium Lam.Description, Image
Carphalea Juss.Description, Image
Catunaregam WolfDescription, Image
Cephalanthus L.Description, Image
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, Image
Coptosperma Hook. f.Description, Image
Cordylostigma Groeninckx & DesseinDescription, Image
Craterispermum Benth.Description, Image
Cremaspora Benth.Description, Image
Crossopteryx FenzlDescription, Image
Didymosalpinx KeayDescription
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
Heinsenia K. Schum.Description, Image
Heinsia DC.Description, Image
Hexasepalum Bartl. ex DC.Description, Image
Hymenodictyon Wall.Description, Image
Hyperacanthus E. Mey. ex BridsonDescription
Ixora L.Description, Image
Keetia E. PhillipsDescription, Image
Kohautia Cham. & Schltdl.Description, Image
Lasianthus JackDescription, Image
Leptactina Hook. f.Description, Image
Multidentia GilliDescription
Mussaenda L.Description, Image
Oldenlandia L.Description, Image
Otiophora Zucc.Description, Image
Otomeria Benth.Description, Image
Oxyanthus DC.Description, Image
Paederia L.Description, Image
Paraknoxia Bremek.Description
Pauridiantha Hook. f.Description, Image
Pavetta L.Description, Image
Pentanisia Harv.Description, Image
Pentas Benth.Description, Image
Pentodon Hochst.Description, Image
Polysphaeria Hook. f.Description, Image
Psychotria L.Description, Image
Psydrax Gaertn.Description, Image
Pygmaeothamnus RobynsDescription, Image
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, Image
Sherardia L.Description, Image
Spermacoce L.Description, Image
Tarenna Gaertn.Description, Image
Tricalysia A. Rich. ex DC.Description, Image
Vangueria Comm. ex Juss.Description, Image
Vangueriopsis RobynsDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Rubiaceae:

Our websites:

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

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Rubiaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Rubiaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Rubiaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Rubiaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Rubiaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Rubiaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Rubiaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Rubiaceae
Wikipedia: Rubiaceae
Plants of the World Online: Rubiaceae
Tropicos: Rubiaceae



Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Family page: Rubiaceae.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=198, retrieved 19 March 2024

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