Spermacoce | |
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Spermacoce ocymoides | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Rubiaceae |
Subfamily: | Rubioideae |
Tribe: | Spermacoceae |
Genus: |
Spermacoce L. |
Type species | |
Spermacoce tenuior | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Spermacoce or false buttonweed [2] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It comprises about 275 species found throughout the tropics and subtropics. [3] Its highest diversity is found in the Americas, followed by Africa, Australia and Asia.
The species are herbs or small shrubs with small- to medium-sized, four-lobed flowers arranged in capitate inflorescences. Some have a brightly coloured calyx and are eye-catching, particularly the Australian species. The corolla is variable in colour, often white, but also all shades of blue, pink and maroon. The fruit is usually a two-seeded capsule, sometimes a schizocarp or nut. [4]
Spermacoce is a highly diverse genus with about 275 species in many tropical and subtropical places around the globe. [3] North American species include: [5] [6]
Spermacoce | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Spermacoce ocymoides | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Rubiaceae |
Subfamily: | Rubioideae |
Tribe: | Spermacoceae |
Genus: |
Spermacoce L. |
Type species | |
Spermacoce tenuior | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Spermacoce or false buttonweed [2] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It comprises about 275 species found throughout the tropics and subtropics. [3] Its highest diversity is found in the Americas, followed by Africa, Australia and Asia.
The species are herbs or small shrubs with small- to medium-sized, four-lobed flowers arranged in capitate inflorescences. Some have a brightly coloured calyx and are eye-catching, particularly the Australian species. The corolla is variable in colour, often white, but also all shades of blue, pink and maroon. The fruit is usually a two-seeded capsule, sometimes a schizocarp or nut. [4]
Spermacoce is a highly diverse genus with about 275 species in many tropical and subtropical places around the globe. [3] North American species include: [5] [6]