''Heinsia'' is a small

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

flowering A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism ...

shrubs or small trees in the family

Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae are a 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 interpetiolar stipules ...

. They are native to

tropical Africa Although tropical Africa is mostly familiar to the West for its rainforests, this biogeographic realm of Africa is far more diverse. While the tropics are thought of as regions with hot moist climates, which are caused by latitude and the tropi ...

. The genus was first formally named in 1830 by

Augustin Pyramus de Candolle Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple of years de Candol ...

Species

, the following five species are accepted in

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...

: *'' Heinsia bussei'' Verdc. *''

Heinsia crinita ''Heinsia crinita'' (commonly known as bush apple) is a species of perennial shrub or small tree in the family, Rubiaceae The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists o ...

'' (Wennberg) G.Taylor *''

Heinsia mozambicensis ''Heinsia'' is a small genus of flowering shrubs or small trees in the family Rubiaceae. They are native to tropical Africa. The genus was first formally named in 1830 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle. Species , the following five species are acc ...

'' (Verdc.) J.E.Burrows & S.M.Burrows *'' Heinsia myrmoecia'' (K.Schum.) N.Hallé *'' Heinsia zanzibarica'' (Bojer) Verdc.

References

Rubiaceae genera Flora of Africa Mussaendeae {{Ixoroideae-stub