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Small to large trees, shrubs or less often annual or perennial herbs or woody or herbaceous climbers, sometimes spiny; tissues in many tribes containing abundant rhaphides. Leaves opposite or verticillate, decussate, almost always entire, very rarely (not in East Africa) palmatifid, toothed or finely denticulate, always obviously stipulate (save in some Rubieae, where the stipules may be considered foliar or almost absent according to interpretation), the stipules interpetiolar or intrapetiolar, entire or, particularly in herbaceous genera, variously divided into lobes or fimbrieae, often tipped or separated by mucilaginous hairs known as colleters and often with colleters inside the base; the leaves in certain tribes sometimes contain small bacterial nodules. Flowers rarely solitary, mostly in various terminal or axillary inflorescences, all basically cymose but variously aggregated into panicles, etc., occasionally in globose heads to an extent that the ovaries are adnate; bracts vestigial to well developed, even conspicuous; flowers usually hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual, regular or nearly so (except in >i>Posoqueria (America)) or corolla-tube rarely curved, homostylous or quite often heterostylous with 2 or rarely 3 forms (long-styled (dolichostylous), short-styled (brachystylous) or equal-styled (isostylous)). Calyx gamosepalous, the tube mostly adnate to the ovary, (3–)4–5(–8)-toothed or-lobed, sometimes only minutely so, with open, valvate, imbricate or contorted aestivation, 1 or several lobes sometimes slightly to very considerably enlarged to form a leafy often coloured lamina. Corolla small to large and showy, gamopetalous, rotate to salver-shaped or funnel-shaped, the tube often very long, (3–)4–5(–11)-lobed, the lobes mostly contorted or valvate, sometimes valvate-induplicate, rarely imbricate or quincuncial. Stamens usually as many as the corolla-lobes and alternate with them, epipetalous; anthers basi-or dorsifixed, introrse, the thecae rarely multilocellate transversely. Pollen various, mostly simple, isopolar and 3-colporate, but sometimes porate, the number of colpi or pores varying from 2 to 25, globose, ovoid or discoid, sometimes (in some >i>Gardenieae) in tetrads or rarely in polyads. Disc often present, 2-lobed or tubular. Ovary inferior, rarely half-inferior or (in >i>Gaertnera) superior, syncarpous of 2–5 or more carpels, but predominantly of 2 and therefore predominantly 2-locular, but 3–5 or even 12 or more (e.g. in >i>Urophylleae due to supplementary incomplete partitions); placentation axile or (in some >i>Gardenieae) parietal; ovules 1–many per locule, often embedded in fleshy placentas, erect, basal or horizontal, anatropous; style simple, usually long and narrow, the “stigma” either cylindrical, clavate, or otherwise modified to form a “receptaculum pollinis” or divided into 2–many linear, spathulate or clavate lobes, the actual stigmatic surface sometimes confined to certain areas, e.g. the inner faces of the lobes. Fruit small to quite large (0.2–20 cm.), a capsule, berry or drupe or indehiscent or woody, occasionally (e.g. in >i>Nauclea and >i>Morinda) united to form syncarps, (1–)2–many-seeded, if capsules then loculicidal or septicidal or opening by a beak. Seeds small to rather large, sometimes winged; testa cells in some tribes with very distinct pits; albumen present (save in >i>Guettardeae); embryo straight or rarely curved, the radicle mostly longer than the cotyledons
Monoecious, dioecious or gynodioecious annual and perennial herbs, epiphytes, climbers, shrubs or trees, often with raphide crystals. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 3 or 4, simple, usually entire, very rarely pinnately or digitately lobed (not in Australia) or pinnatifid (not in Australia), petiolate or sessile, domatia sometimes present; stipules present, interpetiolar, sometimes sheathing, free or fused, sometimes leaf-like contributing to a whorled leaf appearance, with adaxial colleters (glandular trichomes), often deciduous. Inflorescences in cymes or panicles, sometimes simple or compound heads, fascicles, or flowers solitary, terminal or axillary. Flowers bisexual, unisexual or polygamodioecious, actinomorphic, rarely zygomorphic (not in Australia), sessile or pedicellate, often distylous. Sepals usually 4 or 5, often rudimentary, or absent, sometimes 1 to all much enlarged and colourful (Mussaenda), sometimes with adaxial colleters, persistent on fruit or caducous. Petals usually 3–6, fused, tubular, rotate, funnel-shaped, twisted, valvate or imbricate in bud, very rarely free (not in Australia). Stamens usually as many as petals and alternating with them, rarely numerous (not in Australia), epipetalous, free or adnate to stigma (not in Australia); filaments free or fused (not in Australia), often very short or absent; anthers 2-locular, dehiscing by longitudinal slits, rarely by pores (not in Australia). Ovary inferior or rarely semi-inferior or superior (not in Australia), 1–12-locular; ovules 1–many per locule; placentation axile, basal, apical or parietal; style simple or bifid, rarely up to 10-lobed, with disc usually present at base. Fruit a loculicidal, septicidal or circumsessile capsule, drupe or schizocarp, often fused into a multiple fruit; seeds 1–many, globose, ellipsoid, lenticular, flattened, angled or winged (Morinda), endosperm present or rarely absent.
Ovary inferior, rarely half-inferior or superior (in Gaertnera), syncarpous of 2–10(12 or more) carpels, but predominantly of 2, and therefore predominantly 2-locular, but 3–10(12) (in Urophylleae can appear higher than actual carpel number due to supplementary incomplete partitions), or infrequently uni-locular (or partly so); ovules l–numerous per locule; placentation axile (attached to septum at apex, middle or base, usually on a placenta, often embedded in fleshy placentas) or infrequently (in some Gardenieae) parietal; ovules anatropous; style simple, usually long (but very short in Rubieae) and narrow, at the top either cylindrical, clavate, or otherwise modified to form a pollen presenter (the actual stigmatic surface sometimes confined to specific areas, eg the inner faces of the lobes**), or divided into 2–many (according to number of carpels) linear, spathulate or clavate stigmatic lobes
Ovary inferior, rarely half-inferior or superior (in Gaertnera), syncarpous of 2–10(12 or more) carpels, but predominantly of 2, and therefore predominantly 2-locular, but 3–10(12) (in Urophylleae can appear higher than actual carpel number due to supplementary incomplete partitions), or infrequently uni-locular (or partly so); ovules l–numerous per locule; placentation axile (attached to septum at apex, middle or base, usually on a placenta, often embedded in fleshy placentas) or infrequently (in some Gardenieae) parietal; ovules anatropous; style simple, usually long (but very short in Rubieae) and narrow, at the top either cylindrical, clavate, or otherwise modified to form a pollen presenter (the actual stigmatic surface sometimes confined to specific areas, eg the inner faces of the lobes**), or divided into 2–many (according to number of carpels) linear, spathulate or clavate stigmatic lobes
Ovary inferior, rarely half-inferior or (in Gaertnera) superior, syncarpous of 2–5 or more carpels, but predominantly of 2 and therefore predominantly 2-locular, but 3–5 or even 12 or more (eg in Urophylleae due to supplementary incomplete partitions); placentation axile or (in some Gardenieae) parietal; ovules 1-many per locule, often embedded in fleshy placentas, erect, basal or horizontal, anatropous; style simple, usually long and narrow, the “stigma” either cylindrical, clavate, or otherwise modified to form a “receptaculum pollinis” or divided into 2-many linear, spathulate or clavate lobes, the actual stigmatic surface sometimes confined to certain areas, eg the inner faces of the lobes
Leaves opposite or verticillate, decussate, almost always entire, very rarely (not in Africa) palmatifid, toothed or finely denticulate, always obviously stipulate (save in some Rubieae, where the stipules may be considered foliar or almost absent according to interpretation), the stipules interpetiolar or intrapetiolar, entire or, particularly in herbaceous genera, variously divided into lobes or fimbriae, often tipped or separated by mucilaginous hairs known as colleters and often with colleters inside the base; the leaves in certain tribes sometimes contain small bacterial nodules
Flowers rarely solitary, mostly in various terminal or axillary inflorescences, all basically cymose but variously aggregated into panicles, etc., occasionally in globose heads to an extent that the ovaries are adnate; bracts vestigial to well developed, even conspicuous; flowers usually hermaphrodite, rarely unisexual, regular or nearly so (except in Posoqueria (America)) or corolla tube rarely curved, homostylous or quite often heterostylous with 2 or rarely 3 forms (long-styled (dolichostylous), short-styled (brachystylous) or equal-styled (isostylous))
Leaves opposite or occasionally verticillate, decussate, almost always entire, very rarely sparsely toothed or lobed (not in the Flora Zambesiaca area), always obviously stipulate (save in some Rubieae, where the stipules may be considered leaf-like or almost absent according to interpretation); domatia (mite associated pits or tufts of hairs) very often present axils of lateral nerves on the leaf lower surface; bacterial nodules present in a few genera
Leaves opposite or occasionally verticillate, decussate, almost always entire, very rarely sparsely toothed or lobed (not in the Flora Zambesiaca area), always obviously stipulate (save in some Rubieae, where the stipules may be considered leaf-like or almost absent according to interpretation); domatia (mite associated pits or tufts of hairs) very often present axils of lateral nerves on the leaf lower surface; bacterial nodules present in a few genera
Fruit small to very large, 2–many-seeded, dehiscent (capsules either loculicidal, septicidal, opening by a beak or infrequently circumscissile, or splitting into mericarps), or indehiscent (berries, including forms with woody walls, or drupes), occasionally (eg in Nauclea and Morinda) united to form syncarps; if drupes containing one-seeded pyrenes thin-or thick-walled, opening by pre-formed germination slits or not, or less often a multi-seeded stone
Fruit small to very large, 2–many-seeded, dehiscent (capsules either loculicidal, septicidal, opening by a beak or infrequently circumscissile, or splitting into mericarps), or indehiscent (berries, including forms with woody walls, or drupes), occasionally (eg in Nauclea and Morinda) united to form syncarps; if drupes containing one-seeded pyrenes thin-or thick-walled, opening by pre-formed germination slits or not, or less often a multi-seeded stone
Calyx gamosepalous, the tube (i.e. calyx tube**) mostly adnate to the ovary, the limb with tubular part (i.e. limb-tube) present or absent, truncate or bearing minute teeth to well developed lobes (tab. 73/A1–A4), valvate (often separated by sinuses), or less often imbricate or contorted in aestivation, in a few genera 1–several lobes sometimes slightly to considerably enlarged to form a leaf-like often coloured blade (calycophyll) (tab. 73/A5)
Calyx gamosepalous, the tube (i.e. calyx tube**) mostly adnate to the ovary, the limb with tubular part (i.e. limb-tube) present or absent, truncate or bearing minute teeth to well developed lobes (tab. 73/A1–A4), valvate (often separated by sinuses), or less often imbricate or contorted in aestivation, in a few genera 1–several lobes sometimes slightly to considerably enlarged to form a leaf-like often coloured blade (calycophyll) (tab. 73/A5)
Corolla predominantly white but sometimes coloured, small to large and showy, gamopetalous, mostly salver-shaped to funnel-shaped or less often campanulate, occasionally tube very short, the tube rarely curved, (3)4–5(11)-lobed, the lobes contorted (mostly to the left, infrequently to the right) or valvate (sometimes induplicate or reduplicate), with or without a contact zone (i.e. thickened margin), less often imbricate (tab. 73/B–D)
Corolla predominantly white but sometimes coloured, small to large and showy, gamopetalous, mostly salver-shaped to funnel-shaped or less often campanulate, occasionally tube very short, the tube rarely curved, (3)4–5(11)-lobed, the lobes contorted (mostly to the left, infrequently to the right) or valvate (sometimes induplicate or reduplicate), with or without a contact zone (i.e. thickened margin), less often imbricate (tab. 73/B–D)
Flowers regular or slightly to distinctly (not in Africa) zygomorphic, hermaphrodite or less often unisexual, homostylous, in which case very often protandrous, with or without pollen presentation (tab. 73/F,G), or rarely protogynous (not in Africa), or heterostylous with 2 or less often 3 forms (long-styled (dolichostylous), short-styled (brachystylous) or equal-styled (isostylous) (tab. 73/E)
Flowers regular or slightly to distinctly (not in Africa) zygomorphic, hermaphrodite or less often unisexual, homostylous, in which case very often protandrous, with or without pollen presentation (tab. 73/F,G), or rarely protogynous (not in Africa), or heterostylous with 2 or less often 3 forms (long-styled (dolichostylous), short-styled (brachystylous) or equal-styled (isostylous) (tab. 73/E)
Stipules interpetiolar or occasionally intrapetiolar (mostly New World taxa); lobes shortly fused above the petioles and sometimes forming a sheath, or lobes free, entire, bifid or rarely laciniate, or particularly in herbaceous genera, fimbriate, often tipped with or separated by colleters (mucilaginous glands) (tab. 74), often with colleters inside the limb, especially towards the base
Stipules interpetiolar or occasionally intrapetiolar (mostly New World taxa); lobes shortly fused above the petioles and sometimes forming a sheath, or lobes free, entire, bifid or rarely laciniate, or particularly in herbaceous genera, fimbriate, often tipped with or separated by colleters (mucilaginous glands) (tab. 74), often with colleters inside the limb, especially towards the base
Seeds small to rather large, sometimes winged; testa cells in some tribes with very distinct pits; endosperm present (save in Guettardeae), entire or ruminate; embryo straight or rarely curved; radicle erect or horizontal, mostly longer than the cotyledons, orientation pendulous
Seeds small to rather large, sometimes winged; testa cells in some tribes with very distinct pits; endosperm present (save in Guettardeae), entire or ruminate; embryo straight or rarely curved; radicle erect or horizontal, mostly longer than the cotyledons, orientation pendulous
Calyx gamosepalous, the tube mostly adnate to the ovary, (3)4–5(8)-toothed or lobed, sometimes only minutely so, with open, valvate, imbricate or contorted aestivation, 1 or several lobes sometimes slightly to very considerably enlarged to form a leafy often coloured lamina
Small to large trees, shrubs (including suffrutices from woody rootstocks) or less often annual or perennial herbs or woody or herbaceous climbers, sometimes spiny; raphides (tab. 1/7) present or absent; crystal sand absent or present (these two mutually exclusive)
Small to large trees, shrubs (including suffrutices from woody rootstocks) or less often annual or perennial herbs or woody or herbaceous climbers, sometimes spiny; raphides (tab. 1/7) present or absent; crystal sand absent or present (these two mutually exclusive)
Inflorescences terminal or axillary, basically thyrsoid, variously aggregated into panicles etc., occasionally in globose heads sometimes to an extent that the ovaries are adnate, or sometimes flowers solitary; bracts vestigial to well developed, even conspicuous
Inflorescences terminal or axillary, basically thyrsoid, variously aggregated into panicles etc., occasionally in globose heads sometimes to an extent that the ovaries are adnate, or sometimes flowers solitary; bracts vestigial to well developed, even conspicuous
Stamens usually as many as the corolla lobes and alternate with them, epipetalous or not (some New World tribes only); anthers basi-or more often dorsifixed, introrse rarely porate (not in the Flora Zambesiaca area), the thecae rarely transversely multilocellate
Stamens usually as many as the corolla lobes and alternate with them, epipetalous or not (some New World tribes only); anthers basi-or more often dorsifixed, introrse rarely porate (not in the Flora Zambesiaca area), the thecae rarely transversely multilocellate
Disk usually functioning as a nectary, positioned above the ovary inside the base of the calyx limb, annular to cushion-shaped or tubular, sometimes 2-lobed, occasionally fused to base of calyx limb-tube (Naucleeae) or absent (in wind-pollinated flowers)
Disk usually functioning as a nectary, positioned above the ovary inside the base of the calyx limb, annular to cushion-shaped or tubular, sometimes 2-lobed, occasionally fused to base of calyx limb-tube (Naucleeae) or absent (in wind-pollinated flowers)
Fruit small to quite large (0|2–20 cm.), a capsule, berry or drupe or indehiscent or woody, occasionally (eg in Naulea and Morinda) united to form syncarps, (1)2-many-seeded, if capsules then loculicidal or septicidal or opening by a beak
Corolla small to large and showy, gamopetalous, rotate to salver-shaped or funnel-shaped, the tube often very long, (3)4–5(11)-lobed, the lobes mostly contorted or valvate, sometimes valvate-induplicate, rarely imbricate or quincuncial
Pollen various, mostly simple, isopolar and 3-colporate, but sometimes porate, the number of colpi or pores varying from 2 to 25, globose, ovoid or discoid, sometimes (in some Gardenieae) in tetrads or rarely in polyads
Pollen various, mostly simple, isopolar and 3-colporate, but sometimes porate, the number of colpi or pores varying from 2 to 25, globose, ovoid or discoid, sometimes (in some Gardenieae) in tetrads or rarely in polyads
Seeds small to rather large, sometimes winged; testa cells in some tribes with very distinct pits; albumen present (save in Guettardeae); embryo straight or rarely curved, the radicle mostly longer than the cotyledons
Pollen various, mostly simple, isopolar and 3-colporate, but sometimes porate, the number of colpi or pores varying from 2–25, globose, ovoid or discoid, sometimes (in some Gardenieae) in tetrads or rarely polyads
Stamens epipetalous, as many as and alternate with the corolla-lobes; anthers mostly separate, 2-celled, opening lengthwise or rarely by terminal pores, rarely transversely septate
Ovary inferior or rarely superior, 2-or more-celled, with axile, apical or basal placentas, or rarely 1-celled with parietal placentas; style often slender; ovules 1 to many
Small to large trees, shrubs or less often annual or perennial herbs or woody or herbaceous climbers, sometimes spiny; tissues in many tribes containing abundant rhaphides
Stamens usually as many as the corolla-lobes and alternate with them, epipetalous; anthers basi-or dorsifixed, introrse, the thecae rarely multilocellate transversely
Leaves opposite or rarely verticillate, entire; stipules inter-or intra-petiolar, often connate, rarely leafy and not distinguishable from the leaves
Corolla epigynous, more or less tubular, rarely campanulate; lobes 4-12, contorted, imbricate or valvate
Flowers usually hermaphrodite, actinomorphic or very rarely slightly zygomorphic, solitary to capitate
Seeds rarely winged, mostly with endosperm, the latter rarely ruminate; embryo straight or curved
Disc often present, 2-lobed or tubular
Fruit a capsule, berry or drupe
Trees, shrubs or rarely herbs
Calyx adnate to the ovary
