Remijia is a genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 of flowering plant

Flowering plant

The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...

s in the family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 Rubiaceae

Rubiaceae

The Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...

. Within the family, it is a member of the subfamily Cinchonoideae and the tribe

Tribe (biology)

In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...

 Cinchoneae.

There are about 36 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 in Remijia. They are native

Indigenous (ecology)

In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...

 to Peru

Peru

Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....

 and Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. Some of the species have hollow stems that harbor ant

Ant

Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...

s.

The bark of Remijia contains 0.5%–2% of the drug

Drug

A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...

 quinine

Quinine

Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...

. It is cheaper than the bark of Cinchona

Cinchona

Cinchona or Quina is a genus of about 38 species in the family Rubiaceae, native to tropical South America. They are large shrubs or small trees growing 5–15 metres in height with evergreen foliage. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate and 10–40 cm long. The flowers are white, pink...

, a source of quinine. Because of its intense flavor, the bark of Remijia is used for making of tonic water

Tonic water

Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually now has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctively bitter taste...

.

No type species

Type species

In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...

 has ever been designated for Remijia. In 2005, two species were transferred from Remijia to a new genus, Ciliosemina.

Species

There are 45 recognised species:

• Remijia amazonica K.Schum. in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.)
• Remijia amphithrix Standl.
• Remijia aracamuniensis (Steyerm.) C.M.Taylor
• Remijia argentea Steyerm.
• Remijia asperula Standl.
• Remijia berryi Steyerm.
• Remijia chelomaphylla G.A.Sullivan
• Remijia cinchonicarpa Sucre
• Remijia delascioi Steyerm.
• Remijia densiflora Benth.
• Remijia duckei Standl.
• Remijia ferruginea (A.St.-Hil.) DC..
• Remijia firmula (Mart.) Wedd.
• Remijia globosa (Steyerm.) C.M.Taylor
• Remijia glomerata Huber
• Remijia grazielae Sucre
• Remijia hilarii DC.
• Remijia hirsuta Sucre
• Remijia hispida Spruce ex K.Schum. in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.)
• Remijia hubbardiorum B.M.Boom
• Remijia involucrata K.Schum. in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.)
• Remijia kuhlmannii Sucre
• Remijia leiocalyx Standl. ex Steyerm.
• Remijia longifolia Benth. ex Standl.
• Remijia macrocnemia (Mart.) Wedd.
• Remijia macrophylla (H.Karst.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Flueck.
• Remijia maguirei Steyerm.
• Remijia marahuacensis Steyerm.
• Remijia morilloi Steyerm.
• Remijia pacimonica Standl.
• Remijia paniculata DC.
• Remijia physophora Benth. ex K.Schum. in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.)
• Remijia pilosinervula Steyerm.
• Remijia reducta Steyerm.
• Remijia roraimae (Benth.) K.Schum. in C.F.P.von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.)
• Remijia sessilis Steyerm.
• Remijia sipapoensis Steyerm.
• Remijia steyermarkii Standl.
• Remijia tenuiflora Benth.
• Remijia trianae Wernham
• Remijia ulei K.Krause
• Remijia uniflora C.M.Taylor
• Remijia vaupesiana Steyerm.
• Remijia vellozoi DC.
• Remijia wurdackii Steyerm.

External links

• Remijia At: Search Page At: World Checklist of Rubiaceae At: Index by Team At: Projects At: Science Directory At: Scientific Research and Data At: Kew Gardens
• Remijia At: List of Genera At: Rubiaceae At: List of families At: Families and Genera in GRIN At: Queries At: GRIN taxonomy for plants