SafePlants

Coccocypselum: A Glimpse into the Rubiaceae Family

Coccocypselum is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Rubiaceae family. These plants are native to a wide swathe of the Americas, including Mexico, Central America, the West Indies, and South America.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Coccocypselum P. Browne
• Family: Rubiaceae (Major group: Angiosperms - Flowering plants)
• Synonyms:
  • Coccocypselum brownei Desv. ex Ham.
  • Coccocypselum pseudotontanea Griseb.
  • Lipostoma sericeum (implied, as a related taxonomic discussion point)

Distribution and Habitat

Coccocypselum species are distributed throughout the tropics of the Americas. Some species have documented locations such as:

• Southeast Bahia (Brazil), where Coccocypselum bahiense was discovered.
• Argentina, where Coccocypselum pulchellum is a new record.
• Peru, where Coccocypselum condalia and Coccocypselum cf. crassifolium have been found.
• Mata Atlântica (Brazil) is a noted habitat for Coccocypselum lanceolatum.

Morphological Characteristics

• Coccocypselum guianense is described as "rampante formant des tapis," suggesting a creeping, mat-forming growth habit.
• Coccocypselum lanceolatum is described as having a plant size of 20 cm and a flower size of 0.8 cm.
• Fruits of Coccocypselum lanceolatum are characterized by their blue color.

Nomenclature Notes

The species Coccocypselum anomalum gets its name from the Greek word "anomalos," meaning rough, uneven, or deviating from the norm.

Further Information

For multimedia resources, explore Coccocypselum on Wikimedia Commons. Additional information can be found on websites such as:

• Encyclopedia of Life
• Discover Life
• The Plant List
• IPNI (International Plant Names Index)
• Australian Plant Name Index
• Index Nominum Genericorum (ING)
• Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants
• ResearchGate
• EOL (for Coccocypselum guianense)