Cuviera


Cuviera is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae native to tropical Africa. It was originally described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1807 and is named after the French naturalist Georges Cuvier.

Description

The species form a homogeneous group that is well characterized by their striped petals, many-flowered inflorescences and usually ant holes in the twigs. The bracts are recaulescent, which means that the first node of the inflorescence is bare and the lowest bracts are inserted at the second node.

Distribution and habitat

The genus is found in the Guineo-Congolian rainforest zone. The centre of diversity is the Lower Guinean forests; two species occur in the Upper Guinean forests, and only C. angolensis extends into the Congolian forests.
Most species are relatively light demanding, favouring secondary or riverine forest, but some are found in the understory as well. They often grow in clusters.

Taxonomy

At one time, the genus Globulostylis was considered as a subgenus of Cuviera, but it has been re-established as an accepted genus.

Species

Accepted species according to the latest revision.
;formerly included
The following species are excluded from Cuviera based on morphological and molecular data, some of which have not yet been formally transferred to other genera.