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Botanical Family · Gentianales

Rubiaceae

Coffee/Madder family

143 speciesOrder Gentianales8+ well-known plants

A cosmopolitan family best known for coffee (Coffea) and quinine (Cinchona). Predominantly tropical trees, shrubs, and herbs with characteristic opposite leaves and interpetiolar stipules. The family includes important medicines and dyes.

Browse all 143 species ↓
Representative RUBIACEAE specimen
Representative specimen · Rubiaceae
Key pattern

Opposite or whorled leaves with a small stipule between each pair, and 4- or 5-parted tubular flowers above an inferior ovary.

Includes coffee — the stimulant alkaloids in Coffea are typical of the family's broader tendency to accumulate bitter, alkaloid-rich compounds.

Identify the species

Which Rubiaceae species is this?

Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Rubiaceae species.

Click a node to trace its path · pinch or scroll to zoom · drag to pan
HabitWhat is the plant's growth habit?
Climbing vine
Herb
Shrub
Tree
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Green
Yellow
Leaf SurfaceWhat does the leaf surface feel or look like?
Glabrous
Glabrous (smooth, hairless)
Hirsute (coarsely hairy)
Pubescent (softly hairy)
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Pink
Purple
White
Leaf SurfaceWhat does the leaf surface feel or look like?
Glabrous (smooth, hairless)
Hirsute
Hirsute (coarsely hairy)
Pubescent
Pubescent (softly hairy)
Tomentose (woolly, matted hairs)
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Orange
Red
White
Yellow
ThornsDoes the plant have thorns?
No thorns
Yes
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
White
Yellow
Leaf SurfaceWhat does the leaf surface feel or look like?
Glabrous
Glabrous (smooth, hairless)
Pubescent
Pubescent (softly hairy)
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
White
Yellow
Flower ColorWhat color are the flowers?
Pink
White
Yellow

How to recognise the Rubiaceae family

  • 01

    Opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules

  • 02

    4–5-merous tubular flowers

  • 03

    Includes Coffee, Gardenia, Ixora

Family identification method

To check whether a plant belongs to Rubiaceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.

Learn the full family-identification method

Typical leaf characters

Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.

Typical flower & fruit

Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.

Notable members

HalduAdina cordifoliaKadamAnthocephalus chinensisPanama RoseArachnothryx leucophyllaSouth-Indian Corn-CockleArgostemma courtallenseBasil-Like Button WeedBorreria ocymoidesNarrow Leaved CanthiumCanthium angustifoliumCarray Cheddle, Coromandel Canthium, Honey-Thorn, Wild JessamineCanthium parviflorumEmetic Nut, Common Emetic Nut, Mountain PomegranateCatunaregam spinosa

Families that can look similar

Asclepiadaceae

Compare against Asclepiadaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Asclepiadaceae

Apocynaceae

Compare against Apocynaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Apocynaceae

Gentianaceae

Compare against Gentianaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Gentianaceae

Myrtaceae

Compare against Myrtaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.

Compare Myrtaceae

All 143 species in RUBIACEAE

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