Rubiaceae

Mitracarpus Zucc.

First published in J.A.Schultes & J.H.Schultes, Mant. 3: 210 (1827)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Mexico to Tropical America.

Descriptions

Rubiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 5:1. 1989

Morphology General Habit
Erect or prostrate annual or perennial herbs with 4-angled stems.
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules connate with the petioles to form a fimbriated sheath.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite; lamina linear-lanceolate to ovate or broadly elliptic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers not heterostylous or only slightly so, in dense spherical sessile terminal or axillary heads.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tube obconic, obovoid or subglobose; teeth 4–5,2 often longer, sometimes with minute supplementary ones between.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla salver-shaped or funnel-shaped, the tube often with an internal ring of hairs; lobes 4; throat glabrous or hairy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens inserted in the throat; anthers included or exserted.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk fleshy.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style short or long, divided into 2 short linear branches.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 2(3)-locular; ovules solitary in each locule, attached by the middle to the septum.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a thin circumscissile capsule, the upper part splitting off together with the calyx lobes, the septum persistent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds oblong or globose, the ventral face divided into 4 distinct areas; endosperm fleshy.
[FZ]

Rubiaceae, B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1976

Morphology General Habit
Erect or prostrate annual or perennial herbs with 4-angled stems
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules connate with the petioles to form a fimbriated sheath
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite; blades linear-lanceolate to ovate or broadly elliptic
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers not heterostylous or only slightly so, in dense spherical sessile terminal or axillary heads
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube obconic, obovoid or subglobose; teeth 4–5, 2 often longer, sometimes with minute supplementary ones between
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla salver-shaped or funnel-shaped, the tube often with an internal ring of hairs; lobes 4; throat glabrous or hairy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens inserted in the throat, anthers included or exserted
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disc fleshy
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style
Style short or long, divided into 2 short linear branches
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 2(–3)-locular; ovules solitary in each locule, attached by the middle to the septum
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a thin circumscissile capsule, the upper part splitting off together with the calyx-lobes, the septum persistent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds oblong or globose, the ventral face divided into 4 distinct areas; endosperm fleshy.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0