242 RUBIACE. [Coprosma. 
Orprr XXXVII. RUBIACEZ. 
Trees, shrubs, or herbs, rarely climbing. Leaves opposite or 
whorled, simple, entire or very rarely toothed or lobed. Stipules 
always present, usually interpetiolar, either free or united with the 
petioles into a sheath, or connate into a sheath or ring surrounding 
the stem within the petioles; in the tribe Galie@ resembling the 
leaves, and with them forming a whorl round the branch. Flowers 
regular, hermaphrodite or unisexual, variously arranged. Calyx- 
tube adnate to the ovary; limb 4—5-toothed or cupular, sometimes 
wanting. Corolla gamopetalous, tubular, funnel-shaped, cam- 
panulate, or rotate, usually 4—5-lobed; lobes valvate or imbricate 
or contorted. Stamens inserted on the tube or mouth of the corolla, 
equal in number to its lobes. Ovary inferior, 2—many-celled, 
crowned by a fleshy disc ; styles 1 or 2 or more; ovules solitary or 
2 or more in each cell. Fruit very various, a drupe or berry or 
capsule, or composed of dehiscent or indehiscent cocci. Seeds with 
fleshy or horny albumen; embryo straight or curved; radicle 
superior or inferior. 
One of the largest and best-defined orders in the vegetable kingdom, con- 
taining more than 350 genera and 4000 species. With the exception of the tribe 
Galie@, which is almost entirely temperate, the species are mainly tropical or 
subtropical, and are especially plentiful in the warmer portions of South 
America. The medicinal properties of the order are most important. Out of 
many excellent drugs yielded by it, quinine and ipecacuanha are the best known 
and the most valuable. Among the species used for food the most noteworthy 
is the coffee-plant, which is now cultivated in all warm countries, and is of 
immense commercial importance. Many ornamental plants belong to the 
order, the various kinds of Bowvardia, Gardenia, Ixora, &c., being well-known 
examples. Of the 4 New Zealand genera, Coprosma extends to Australia and 
Tasmania, the Pacific Islands, New Guinea, and the mountains of Borneo. 
Nertera has the same distribution, and is found in South America as well. 
The two remaining genera are widely distributed in the north temperate zone. 
* Leaves opposite ; stipules interpetiolar. Ovary 2-celled ; ovules solitary in 
each cell. Fruit a drupe. 
Shrubs or small trees. Flowers unisexual a .. 1. Coprosma. 
Slender herbs. Flowers hermaphrodite .. ae .. 2. NERTERA. 
** Leaves whorled; stipules apparently wanting. (In reality the whorl 
consists of two opposite leaves and several leaf-like stipules). Ovary 2-celled ; 
ovules solitary in each cell. Fruit of 2 dry indehiscent cocci. Herbs. 
Calyx-limb wanting. Corolla rotate .. or .. 3. GALIUM. 
Calyx-limb wanting. Corolla funnel-shaped or campanu- 
late ar ee ws os Ae .. 4, ASPERULA, 
1. COPROSMA, Forst. 
Shrubs or small trees, usually erect, more rarely prostrate or 
creeping, often foetid when bruised. Leaves opposite, petiolate or 
almost sessile; stipules interpetiolar, acute or acuminate, entire or 
denticulate. Flowers dicecious, small and inconspicuous, solitary 
or clustered in few- or many-flowered fascicles or cymes. Calyx- 
