''Canephora'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Rubiaceae Rubiaceae () is a family (biology), family of flowering plants, 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 Petiole ( ...

, indigenous to

Madagascar Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, is an island country that includes the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Lying off the southeastern coast of Africa, it is the world's List of islands by area, f ...

Description

The name ''Canephora'', "basket bearer", refers to both the flattened peduncle topped by a "hollowed apex bearing flowers" and to the ritual office for unmarried young women in ancient Greece, as bearer of a sacred basket full of offerings during processions at festivals. ''Canephora'' is unique in Rubiaceae in having peduncles transformed into flattened, green axes called

phylloclade Phylloclades and cladodes are flattened, photosynthetic shoots, which are usually considered to be modified branches. The two terms are used either differently or interchangeably by different authors. '' Phyllocladus'', a genus of conifer, is na ...

s. ''

Canephora madagascariensis ''Canephora'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae, indigenous to Madagascar. Description The name ''Canephora'', "basket bearer", refers to both the flattened peduncle topped by a "hollowed apex bearing flowers" and to the ...

'' has bright white, campanulate flowers and apparently edible, red fruits, locally known as "hazongalala".

Species

Currently, five species are recognized, but several new species await description. *''

Canephora angustifolia ''Canephora'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae, indigenous to Madagascar. Description The name ''Canephora'', "basket bearer", refers to both the flattened peduncle topped by a "hollowed apex bearing flowers" and to the ...

'' Wernham *'' Canephora goudotii'' Wernham *'' Canephora humblotii''

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals and creatures * A male duck * Drake (mythology), a term related to and often synonymous with dragon People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family ...

*''

J.F.Gmel. Johann Friedrich Gmelin (8 August 1748 – 1 November 1804) was a German natural history, naturalist, chemist, botanist, entomologist, herpetologist, and malacologist. Education Johann Friedrich Gmelin was born as the eldest son of Philipp F ...

*'' Canephora maroana'' A.DC.

References

External links

''Canephora'' in the World Checklist of Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae genera Octotropideae Endemic flora of Madagascar {{Ixoroideae-stub