Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants (anthophytes) in the order Gentianales, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules and sympetalous actinomorphic flowers. The family contains about 13,500 species in about 620 genera, which makes it the fourth-largest angiosperm family. Rubiaceae has a cosmopolitan distribution; however, the largest species diversity is concentrated in the tropics and subtropics.
23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.
The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).
65 genera are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.
Afrocanthium
Genus Afrocanthium: Afrocanthium gilfillanii (N.E.Br.) Lantz, indigenous Afrocanthium mundianum (Cham. & Schltdl.) Lantz, indigenous
Agathisanthemum
Genus Agathisanthemum: Agathisanthemum bojeri Klotzsch, indigenous Agathisanthemum bojeri Klotzsch subsp. bojeri, indigenous Agathisanthemum chlorophyllum (Hochst.) Bremek. indigenous Agathisanthemum chlorophyllum (Hochst.) Bremek. var. chlorophyllum, endemic Agathisanthemum chlorophyllum (Hochst.) Bremek. var. pubescens Bremek. endemic
Alberta
Genus Alberta: Alberta magna E.Mey. endemic
Ancylanthos
Genus Ancylanthos: Ancylanthos bainesii Hiern, accepted as Ancylanthos rubiginosus Desf. Ancylanthos monteiroi Oliv. accepted as Vangueria monteiroi (Oliv.) Lantz, indigenous
Anthospermum
Genus Anthospermum: Anthospermum aethiopicum L. indigenous Anthospermum basuticum Puff, indigenous Anthospermum bergianum Cruse, endemic Anthospermum bicorne Puff, endemic Anthospermum comptonii Puff, endemic Anthospermum crocyllis Sond. accepted as Plocama crocyllis (Sond.) M.Backlund & Thulin, present Anthospermum dregei Sond. indigenous Anthospermum dregei Sond. subsp. dregei, indigenous Anthospermum dregei Sond. subsp. ecklonis (Sond.) Puff, endemic Anthospermum ericifolium (Licht. ex Roem. & Schult.) Kuntze, endemic Anthospermum esterhuysenianum Puff, indigenous Anthospermum esterhuysenianum Puff var. esterhuysenianum, endemic Anthospermum esterhuysenianum Puff var. hirsutum Puff, endemic Anthospermum galioides Rchb.f. indigenous Anthospermum galioides Rchb.f. subsp. galioides, endemic Anthospermum galioides Rchb.f. subsp. reflexifolium (Kuntze) Puff, endemic Anthospermum galpinii Schltr. endemic Anthospermum herbaceum L.f. indigenous Anthospermum hirtum Cruse, endemic Anthospermum hispidulum E.Mey. ex Sond. indigenous Anthospermum littoreum L.Bolus, endemic Anthospermum monticola Puff, indigenous Anthospermum paniculatum Cruse, endemic Anthospermum prostratum Sond. endemic Anthospermum rigidum Eckl. & Zeyh. indigenous Anthospermum rigidum Eckl. & Zeyh. subsp. pumilum (Sond.) Puff, indigenous Anthospermum rigidum Eckl. & Zeyh. subsp. rigidum, indigenous Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. indigenous Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. ecklonianum (Cruse) Puff, endemic Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. saxatile Puff, endemic Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. spathulatum, indigenous Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. tulbaghense Puff, endemic Anthospermum spathulatum Spreng. subsp. uitenhagense Puff, endemic Anthospermum streyi Puff, endemic Anthospermum welwitschii Hiern, indigenous
Breonadia
Genus Breonadia: Breonadia salicina (Vahl) Hepper & J.R.I.Wood, indigenous
Burchellia
Genus Burchellia: Burchellia bubalina (L.f.) Sims, indigenous