Canephora is a genus of 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 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 .
Canephora madagascariensis 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.
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Canephora angustifolia Wernham
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Canephora goudotii Wernham
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Canephora humblotii Drake
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Canephora madagascariensis J.F.Gmel.
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Canephora maroana A.DC.
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