Deppea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae native to the region from Mexico to Central America, and from Brazil to Argentina.

Description

Deppea are slender shrubs or small trees with oppositely arranged, or rarely whorled leaves.

Cytology

The chromosome count of Deppea blumenaviensis is 2n = 28.

Taxonomy

The genus is named in honor of Ferdinand Deppe (1794-1861), who collected the type species during a botanical expedition to Veracruz, Mexico with C.J.W. Schiede in 1828-1829. It was described by Diederich Franz Leonhard von Schlechtendal and Adelbert von Chamisso in 1830 with Deppea erythrorhiza Schltdl. & Cham. as the type species. Within the subfamily Dialypetalanthoideae it is placed in the tribe Hamelieae.

Species

Distribution and habitat

It occurs in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. The centre of diversity is in the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala.

External links