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Rubiaceae facts for kids

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Rubiaceae
Galium verum2.jpg
Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Division:
Class:
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Family:
Rubiaceae

Type genus
Rubia

The Rubiaceae family is a huge group of flowering plants, often called the madder, bedstraw, or coffee family. Imagine a family with over 10,000 different types of plants! That's how big Rubiaceae is. These plants grow all over the world, from tropical forests to cooler regions.

This amazing plant family includes many plants we use every day, like coffee, and also beautiful garden flowers. Scientists divide this big family into three main groups, called subfamilies: Rubioideae, Cinchonoideae, and Ixoroideae. Each of these groups has its own special features.

What Makes Rubiaceae Plants Special?

Rubiaceae plants share some common traits that help scientists identify them. Most of them have leaves that grow opposite each other on the stem, or in circles called 'whorls'. They also often have small, leaf-like structures called 'stipules' between the leaf stalks.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers of Rubiaceae plants are usually small and have four or five petals. They often grow in clusters, making them look very pretty. After the flowers bloom, they produce different kinds of fruits. Some fruits are berries, like coffee beans, while others are dry capsules or drupes.

Why Are They Important?

Rubiaceae plants are super important for many reasons. They give us one of the world's most popular drinks: coffee! The coffee plant, Coffea arabica, is part of this family. Another important plant is Cinchona, which gives us quinine, a medicine used to treat malaria. Many plants in this family are also grown for their beautiful flowers, like Gardenia and Ixora.

Where Do Rubiaceae Plants Grow?

You can find plants from the Rubiaceae family almost everywhere on Earth, except for the very coldest places. They are most common in tropical and subtropical regions, like rainforests, where the weather is warm and wet. However, some types, like bedstraws, can also be found in cooler, temperate areas.

Different Habitats

These plants can grow in many different kinds of places. Some are tall trees, others are shrubs, and many are smaller herbs that grow close to the ground. Some even grow as vines, climbing up other plants. This shows how adaptable and diverse the Rubiaceae family is!

Amazing Examples of Rubiaceae Plants

Let's look at some cool examples from this big family.

The Coffee Plant

The coffee plant (Coffea arabica) is probably the most famous member of the Rubiaceae family. It's a small tree or shrub that produces the beans we use to make coffee. These plants are grown in many warm countries around the world.

Gardenias

Gardenia plants are known for their beautiful, fragrant white or yellow flowers. They are popular in gardens and as cut flowers because they smell so good.

Bedstraws

Plants like Galium verum (Lady's Bedstraw) are smaller, herbaceous plants. They often have tiny flowers and can be found growing in fields and meadows. Some types were even used in the past to stuff mattresses, which is how they got the name "bedstraw"!

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rubiaceae para niños

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