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Rubiaceae is a large family of flowering plants, it includes trees, herbs, lianas and shrubs. Economically important genera of the Rubiaceae family are Coffea, Cinchona and Rubia. These give us coffee, quinine and red dye; very varied uses! There are over 70 species in the Coffea genus, but only seven are economically significant. The Cinchona genus is where we get quinine which is used for its antimalarial properties. This genus is native to the tropical Andean forests of western South America. The National Tree of Peru and Ecuador is from the Cinchona genus; Cinchona officinalis. Rubiaceae has cosmopolitan distribution, which means you find it in the majority of habitats across the world, however it is not found in extreme environments.

The type genus for the Rubiaceae family is Rubia. Rubia takes its name from the Latin word for red: Ruber, and roots of the plant Rubia tinctorum can be used to dye clothes red, as described in the Naturalis Historia written by Pliny the Elder in AD 77-79. Rubia tinctorum also has the common name Madder.

This expedition is the last of a 2 part series of Rubiaceae specimens of Peru at the Kew Herbarium!

Marianne North painting identified as Chassalia species

Unlocking nature's secrets: Kew's digitisation triumphs of 2023