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Key to Rubiaceae
https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-key.php&keyid=40335
1 Trees, shrubs, or woody vines. | |
3 Leaf bases cuneate to rounded but not cordate; leaves oblanceolate, lanceolate or linear; corolla white or yellow; [native, FL]. | |
7 Fruits fleshy, indehiscent, composed of drupe-like syncarps; lobes of the corolla larger (inflorescence with 1 petaloid calycophyll in M. citrifolia); [subfamily Rubioideae; tribe Morindeae] | |
5 Inflorescence cymose, thyrsoid, or corymbose (the inflorescence more open, not globular); [Coastal Plain, from s. SC southward]. | |
8 Plants unarmed, not bearing spines or thorns. | |
11 Leaves broad, not linear, nor strongly congested (except sometimes in Guettarda); [widespread, including s. FL]. | |
12 Flowers solitary, terminal, appearing Rose or Magnolia-like; [horticultural waif; subfamily Ixoroideae; tribe Gardenieae] | |
12 Flowers in cymose or thyrsoid inflorescences, not appearing Magnolia or Rose-like (sometimes singular in Exostema, but the corolla is conspicuously salverform); [natives, s. SC southward through FL] | |
13 Corolla salverform, the tube long and slender, ca. (1.5-) 2-9 cm long, the petals noticeably shorter than the tube (or if of similar length then the lobes linear, as in Exostema); [c. and s. FL only in our area]. | |
14 Leaves ovate, elliptic, or lanceolate, not conspicuously rounded in shape (or at least this not predominant); corolla tube 2-5 cm long, the corolla lobes often recurved apically, linear and of similar length to corolla tube; stamens conspicuously exerted; [s. FL] | |
14 Leaves sub-orbicular to oval, conspicuously rounded in shape (the surfaces scabrous in G. scabra); corolla tube (1.5-) 2-9 cm long, the corolla lobes shorter than the corolla tube; [c. and s. FL] | |
13 Corolla not salverform (or if the tube somewhat lengthened not 2-5 cm long), the corolla lobes broadened and not typically recurved apically; stamens exerted or not; [s. SC southward through FL]. | |
17 Leaves with 8-14 pairs of prominently depressed secondary veins on the upper (adaxial) surface, the veins nearly arising perpindicular from the midvein and often curving (arcuate) toward the leaf margins (thus causing the leaf tissue to almost "rise" from between the veins), the blades herbaceous or membranous; fruit red; [subfamily Rubioideae; tribe Psychotrieae] | |
![]() Show caption*© Sequoia Janirella Wrens, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sequoia Janirella Wrens | |
18 Inflorescence cymose or corymbose, usually terminal, petals whitish; ripened fruit black; plants upright shrubs | |
20 Fruit variously colored but not bright blue to purple, the calyx not partially persistent or inconspicuously so; [widespread natives and non-natives]. | |
25 Leaf blades (3-) 5-50 mm long; plants erect, spreading, or prostrate. | |
27 Flowers in axillary or terminal clusters, or single in axils, not involucrate; flowers 4-lobed; styles 2. | |
28 Flowers in terminal and axillary clusters; fruits not separating into 2 parts. | |