Editing Rubiaceae (section)

==Distribution and habitat==
Rubiaceae have a [[cosmopolitan distribution]] and are found in nearly every region of the world, except for extreme environments such as the polar regions and deserts. The distribution pattern of the family is very similar to the global distribution of plant diversity overall. However, the largest diversity is distinctly concentrated in the humid tropics and subtropics. An exception is the tribe [[Rubieae]], which is cosmopolitan but centered in temperate regions. Only a few genera are pantropical (e.g. ''[[Ixora]]'', ''[[Psychotria]]''), many are paleotropical, while Afro-American distributions are rare (e.g. ''[[Sabicea]]''). Endemic rubiaceous genera are found in most tropical and subtropical floristic regions of the world. The highest number of species is found in [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], and [[New Guinea]]. When adjusted for area, Venezuela is the most diverse, followed by [[Colombia]] and [[Cuba]].<ref name="Davis2009"/>

The Rubiaceae consist of terrestrial and predominantly woody plants. Woody rubiaceous shrubs constitute an important part of the understorey of low- and mid-altitude rainforests. Rubiaceae are tolerant of a broad array of environmental conditions (soil types, altitudes, community structures, etc.) and do not specialize in one specific habitat type (although genera within the family often specialize).