I.] 



169 

 The 



34. Natural Order Rubiaceae. Tribe Stellatae. 

 Stellate Tribe of the Madder Family. 



DISTRIBUTION. Dispersed through temperate regions 

 of both hemispheres ; less numerous between the tropics, 

 where, however, typical Rubiaceas abound. British 

 genera 4, species 14. 



Herbs. Leaves verdcillate. Corolla epigynous. Stamens 

 epipetalous. Ovary 2- celled. 



Type Sweet Woodruff (Asperula odorata). 



A perennial herb, with slender creeping rhizome, erect 

 stem with verticillate leaves, and a terminal cyme of 

 small white flowers. 



All British Rubiaceae belong to the Tribe Stellatae, 

 characterised by the leaves in whorls. The more typical 

 members of the Order abound in tropical countries, 

 where many species are amongst the commonest weeds. 

 Others, however, are highly ornamental, and are culti- 

 vated in our plant-houses. A few species are of great 

 economic importance, especially the Coffee shrub (Coffea 

 arabicd) a native of Eastern Tropical Africa, but culti- 

 vated very extensively in Ceylon, the East and West 

 Indian Islands, and Brazil. The seeds are contained, 

 two together, in a fruit of about the size and colour of a 

 Cherry. The pulp of the pericarp is removed by wash- 

 ing and mechanical contrivance, leaving the parchment- 



