The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules and sympetalous actinomorphic flowers. The family contains about 13,500 species in about 620 genera, which makes it the fourth-largest angiosperm family. Rubiaceae has a cosmopolitan distribution; however, the largest species diversity is concentrated in the tropics and subtropics. Economically important genera include Coffea, the source of coffee, Cinchona, the source of the antimalarial alkaloid quinine, ornamental cultivars, and historically some dye plants.
Galium is a large genus of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in the family Rubiaceae, occurring in the temperate zones of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Some species are informally known as bedstraw.
Blepharidium is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Blepharidium guatemalense, which is native to Guatemala, Honduras and southern Mexico. Older works might mention two species.
Afrocanthium keniense is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is endemic to Kenya. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Guettarda is a plant genus in the family Rubiaceae. Most of these plants are known by the common name velvetseed.
Palicourea is a plant genus in the family Rubiaceae. It contains about 200 species, which range from shrubs to small trees, and is distributed throughout the New World tropics.
Robynsia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It was described by John Hutchinson and was named after his friend and colleague Walter Robyns. The genus contains only one species, Robynsia glabrata, which is found in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. The species is morphologically similar to the genus Cuviera but differs by having long, slender corolla tubes.
Chione is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae containing the single species Chione venosa. It is native to the neotropics, occurring in most of Mexico, and throughout Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is typically a tree growing 10 to 20 meters tall. In harsh habitats, it may be dwarfed and shrubby. It has no known economic use.
Hillia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It has 24 species. All are indigenous to tropical America.
Coelospermum reticulatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to New Guinea, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. Its natural habitat is dry rainforest and moister Eucalyptus woodland. The plant is an important source of dye for Aboriginal people. The former genus Pogonolobus with its sole species, Pogonolobus reticulatus, has been synonymised with this species.
Nematostylis is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, i.e. Nematostylis anthophylla, which is endemic to Madagascar.
Anthospermopsis is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It was described by Joseph Harold Kirkbride Jr. in 1997. The genus contains only one species, viz. Anthospermopsis catechosperma, which is endemic to Bahia, Brazil.
Ceuthocarpus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Ceuthocarpus involucratus, which is endemic to Cuba.
Crossopteryx is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Crossopteryx febrifuga, which is found in tropical and southern Africa.
Deccania is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Deccania pubescens, which is endemic to India.
Donnellyanthus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Donnellyanthus deamii, which is found in Oaxaca, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Duidania is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Duidania montana, which is found in Guyana and southern Venezuela.
Durringtonia is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Durringtonia paludosa, which is endemic to Australia.
Eleuthranthes is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Eleuthranthes liberiflora, which is endemic to Western Australia.
Trailliaedoxa is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus contains only one species, viz. Trailliaedoxa gracilis, which is endemic to south-central China. It is also the only species in the tribe Trailliaedoxeae.
