RUBIACE^E 333 



(There are frequently in the leaf axils in addition,, 

 one or two pairs of fully grown leaves, which are 

 the leaves of the very short, otherwise undeveloped 

 axillary shoots, which make the leaves appear fas- 

 cicled.) (Fig. 78). 



Flower in axillary umbel-like cymes. Calyx-tube 

 cup-shaped with four minute teeth. Corolla monopet- 

 alous, tube short, lobes valvate. Stamens four, attached 

 to the corolla tube. Ovary inferior two-celled, style 

 short with two stigmas, ovules numerous. Fruit a cap- 

 sule, opening loculicidally at the top with many seeds. 



CHARACTERS OF THE RUBIACE^ 



Comparing these examples we find at once a simi- 

 larity between them in the opposite leaves, inter- 

 petiolar stipules and regular flowers, with inferior two- 

 celled ovary. These are the chief characteristics of 

 the family RUBIACE^E, the members of which can 

 always be recognized as such by them. 



It is a large family found chiefly in the tropics. 

 In the colder parts of the world only one small 

 section occurs. It comprises herbs, shrubs and trees. 

 The leaves are always opposite, simple, entire, with 

 interpetiolar stipules, i.e. the two stipules on each side 

 coalesce into one. 



The flowers are very regular, the corolla mono- 

 petalous four or five lobed, the stamens attached to 

 the tube and of the same number as the lobes. The 

 ovary inferior two-celled, with one or with many 

 ovules in each cell. 



The fruit varies ; it may be fleshy with two pyrenes 

 as in IXORA and the Coffee, or a schizocarp as 



