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Plants\Trees
Coffee Plant
Photo: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey
BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide
The Coffee
Family: Family Rubiaceeae
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This is one of
the largest of all flowering plant families, with over 6000 species, found
mostly in the tropics of the world (Perry 1977).
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With so many
species, variability in features should be expected.
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However, the leaves are
usually either opposite to the stem, or arranged in whorls (Jackes 1997).
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Many
specimens will have a scar on the stem, which appears as a line between the two
opposite leaves where there was previously a stipule.
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The flowers in this family
vary from the pretty white twisted petals of Gardenias to the Ixora that have
their tiny bright red flowers grouped in a head.
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The following fruits are often
small round red berries, often larger compound fruits. As the ovary is inferior,
that is, it is located below the petals and sepals, the fruits often develop
with the presence of a calyx ring.
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This is an
economically important family as it contains the much loved Coffee plants, and
the early treatment and prevention against malaria, the quinine plant.
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There are
also many ornamentals from this family, such as the Gardenias, with their pretty
and fragrant flowers.
Script: Courtesy of Damon Ramsey BSc.(Zool) Biologist Guide
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