Rubiaceae - Wikipedia

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2/17/14 8:50 PMRubiaceae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Page 1 of 14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubiaceae

Rubiaceae

Rubiaceaeis a familyof flowering plants, variously

called the coffeefamily, madderfamily, or

bedstrawfamily. The group contains many

commonly known plants, including the economically

important coffee (Coffea), quinine (Cinchona), and

gambier (Uncaria), themedicinal ipecacuanha

(Carapichea ipecacuanha), and the horticulturally

valuable madder (Rubia), west Indian jasmine (Ixora),

partridgeberry (Mitchella),Morinda, Gardenia, and

Pentas.

Members of the coffeefamily tend to be concentrated

in warmer and tropical climates around the world.

Currently, about 611 generaand more than 13,000

speciesare placed in Rubiaceae.[2]This makes it the

fourth-largest family of flowering plants by number ofspecies, and fifth-largest by number of genera.

Etymology

The family takes its name from the madder genus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapichea_ipecacuanhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedstrawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedstrawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardeniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morindahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchellahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixorahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapichea_ipecacuanhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinchonahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedstrawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffeahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_(biology)


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Rubia, which derives from the Latin word ruber,

meaning "red".[3]Rubia as a name for madder was

coined by Pliny.[4](The well-known genusRubus

(blackberries and raspberries) is unrelated and belongs

to Rosaceae, the rose family.)

Distribution

Although Rubiaceae are found in nearly every major

region of the world (with the exception of continental

Antarctica, the high arctic, and portions of central

AfricaandAsia), diversity is highest in the humid

tropics. The pattern of diversity in the family is verysimilar to the global distribution of plant diversity

overall.[5]

The greatest number of species occurs in Colombia,

Venezuelaand New Guinea. When adjusted for area,Venezuela is the most diverse, followed by Colombia

and Cuba.[5]A large number of poorly studied species

exist as understorey shrubs in Madagascarand are

threatened with habitat destruction.[6]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Guineahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarcticahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosaceaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubia


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Characteristics

Rubiaceae are an easily recognizable family

characterized by opposite leaves that are simple andentire, with interpetiolar stipules, tubular sympetalous

corollas and an inferior ovary. Exceptionally, there are

some plants that have only a single leaf at each node,

alternating from one side to the other. In these cases,

the alternate leaf arrangement is produced through the

suppression of one leaf at each node.[7]A wide variety

of growth forms are present in the Rubiaceae. While

shrubsare most common, members of the family can

also be trees, lianasor herbs. The flowers, which areusuallybisexual, have a 45 lobed calyxand generally

a 45 lobed corolla, 4 or 5 stamensand two carpels.[7]

Evolution

The fossil history of Rubiaceae goes back at least as far

as the Eocene. The geographic distribution of these

fossils, coupled with the fact that they represent all

three subfamilies, is indicative of an earlier origin for

the family, probably in the Late Cretaceousor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Cretaceoushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eocenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gynoeciumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petal#Corollahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_sexuality#Individual_reproductive_unit_.28a_flower_in_angiosperms.29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lianahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrub


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Paleocene. Although fossils dating back to the

Cretaceousand Palaeocenehave been referred to the

family by various authors, none of these fossils have

been confirmed as belonging to Rubiaceae.[8]

The oldest confirmed fossils, which are of fruit that

bear strong resemblance to the genusEmmenopterys

were found inWashington Stateand are 4849 million

years old. A fossil infructescence and fruit found in 44-

million-year-old strata in Oregonwere assigned to

Emmenopterys dilcheri, an extinct species. The next

oldest fossils after these date to the Late Eoceneand

include CanthiumfromAustralia,Farameafrom

Panama, Guettardafrom New Caledonia, and

Paleorubiaceophyllum, an extinct genus, from the

southeastern United States.[8]

Fossil Rubiaceae are known from three regions in theEocene (North America north of Mexico, Mexico-

Central America-Caribbean, and Southeast Pacific-

Asia). In the Oligocenethey are found in these three

regions plus Africa. In the Miocenethey are found in

these four regions, plus South America, and Europe.[8]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miocenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligocenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Caledoniahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guettardahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farameahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canthiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Eocenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(U.S._state)http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Emmenopterys&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palaeocenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cretaceoushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleocene


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The bark of trees in the genus Cinchonais the source of

a variety of alkaloids, the most familiar of which is

quinine, one of the first agents effective in treating

malaria. Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a smallherbaceous perennial that contains coumarina

natural precursor ofwarfarinand the South

American plantPsychotria ipecacuanhais the source

of the emeticipecac.[6]Psychotria viridisis frequently

used as a source of dimethyltryptaminein the

preparation of ayahuasca, a psychoactive decoction.[10]

Originally from China, the common gardenia

(Gardenia jasminoides) is a widely grown garden plantand flower in frost-free climates worldwide. Several

other species from the genus are also seen in

horticulture. The genusIxoraalso contains plants seen

cultivated in warmer climate gardens.[6]The New

Zealand native Coprosma repensis a commonly usedplant for hedges. The South AfricanRothmannia

globosais seen as a specimen tree in horticulture.

Rose madder, the crushed root ofRubia tinctorum,

yields a red dye, and the tropicalMorinda citrifolia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morinda_citrifoliahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubia_tinctorumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_madderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothmannia_globosahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprosma_repenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ixorahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardenia_jasminoideshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayahuascahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimethyltryptaminehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_viridishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrup_of_ipecachttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emetichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria_ipecacuanhahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warfarinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coumarinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galium_odoratumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malariahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quininehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloidhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinchona


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yields a yellow dye.

Taxonomy

The family was described for the first time byAntoine

Laurent de Jussieuin 1789. Currently, a number of

traditionally accepted families (Dialypetalanthaceae,

Henriqueziaceae, Naucleaceae, and Theligonaceae) are

included in Rubiaceae following molecularphylogeneticresearchby theAngiosperm Phylogeny

Group.

Subfamilies and tribes

Rubiaceae were "classically" divided into two

subfamilies, Coffeoideae, which have placentasbearing

a single ovule, and Cinchonoideae, which have more

than one ovule per placenta. However, as early as 1893

Hans Solerederidentified this system as artificial,

since individuals with a single species of Tarennahad

placentas with one or more ovules. During the

twentieth century other characteristics were used to

delineate subfamilies including the distribution of

raphides, the absence of endospermor heterostyly. On
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterostylyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endospermhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphidehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarennahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Solerederhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovulehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placentahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiosperm_Phylogeny_Grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Researchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_phylogenetichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Laurent_de_Jussieu


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this basis, three, five or eight subfamilies were

recognised. In 1988, Elmar Robbrecht divided the

Rubiaceae into four subfamilies: Ixoroideae,

Cinchonoideae, Antirheoideae and Rubioideae. Whilethe limits of Rubioideae remained almost unchanged

in the face of molecular studies, Antirheoideae was

shown to be polyphyletic, while Ixoroideae was

broadened and Cinchonoideae narrowed.[11]Currently

three subfamilies (Cinchonoideae, Ixoroideae and

Rubioideae) and 52 tribes are recognised. Elmar

Robbrecht and Jean-Franois Manen, however, have

proposed that only two subfamilies be recognised, an

expanded Cinchonoideae (that includes Ixoroideae,CoptosapeltaandLuculia) and Rubioideae.[11]One

tribe, CoptosapelteaeBremek.ex Darwin, and one genus,

LuculiaSweet, have not been placed within a subfamily

and are sister to the rest of Rubiaceae.[12]

Genera

For a full list, seeList of Rubiaceae genera

According to the World Checklist of Rubiaceae, 611
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rubiaceae_generahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sweet_(botanist)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luculiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornelis_Eliza_Bertus_Bremekamphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptosapelteaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphyletic


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genera and 13,143 species were accepted as of 2009.[5]

Psychotria, with 1834 species, is the largest genus

within the family, and the third-largest genus of the

angiosperms, after the legumeAstragalusand the

orchidBulbophyllum. Twenty-nine other genera also

have more than 100 species. On the other hand, 211

genera are monotypic. Together these account for more

than a third of all genera in Rubiaceae, but only around

1% of all species.[12]

Phylogeny

Relationships of the three subfamilies of Rubiaceae,together with the tribe Coptosapelteae and the genus

Luculia. The placement of these two groups relative to

the three subfamilies has not been fully resolved.[12]

Future Research

In comparison to other families, minimal research has

focused on understanding the evolutionary history of

the Rubiaceae. Rubiaceae is large; the number of

species in the Rubiaceae is more than double that of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luculiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotypichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulbophyllumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astragalushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotria


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mammals, and its fossil record is incomplete. Apart

from Coffea, Rubiaceae includes relatively few genera

of economic importance, providing little economic

incentive to stimulate research concerning a

systematically difficult family.[13]

Pictures
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffea


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References

1. ^Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2009). "An

update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Groupclassification for the orders and families of

flowering plants: APG III"(PDF).Botanical

Journal of the Linnean Society161(2): 105121.

doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x. Retrieved

2013-07-06.

2. ^ abStevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm

Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008.

http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/

3. ^Wiktionary. "Ruber". Searched November, 2011.http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ruber

4. ^Plant Systematics by Michael G. Simpson

5. ^ abcdDavis, Aaron P.; Rafal Govaerts, Diane M.

Bridson, Markus Ruhsam, Justin Moat, Neil A.

Brummitt (2009). "A global assessment of

distribution, diversity, endemism, and taxonomic

effort in the Rubiaceae".Annals of the Missouri

Botanical Garden96(1): 6878.

doi:10.3417/2006205.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3417%2F2006205http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ruberhttp://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/http://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8339.2009.00996.xhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122630309/abstract


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Therapeutics306(1): 7383.

doi:10.1124/jpet.103.049882. PMID12660312.

11. ^ abRobbrecht, Elmar; Jean-Franois Manen

(2006). "The major evolutionary lineages of the

coffee family (Rubiaceae, angiosperms). Combined

analysis (nDNA and cpDNA) to infer the position of

CoptosapeltaandLuculia, and supertree

construction based on rbcL, rps16, trnL-trnFand

atpB-rbcLdata. A new classification in two

subfamilies, Cinchonoideae and Rubioideae".

Systematics and Geography of Plants76: 85145.

12. ^ abcBremer, Birgitta (2009). "A review of

molecular phylogenetic studies of Rubiaceae".Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden96(1):

426. doi:10.3417/2006197.

13. ^Robbrecht, E. (1995). Advances in Rubiaceae

Macrosystematics. Opera Botanica Belgica 6, 50(2),

435 437.

External links

Rubiaceaeat The Plant List

Rubiaceae, Dialypetalanthaceae, Henriquezaceae,
http://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/henrique.htmhttp://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/dialypet.htmhttp://delta-intkey.com/angio/www/graminea.htmhttp://www.theplantlist.org/http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Rubiaceae/http://dx.doi.org/10.3417%2F2006197http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifierhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12660312http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PubMed_Identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1124%2Fjpet.103.049882http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifier


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Rubiaceae - Wikipedia