''Isertia'' is a

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 plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Rubiaceae. It contains 15

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s or small

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s that are indigenous to the neotropics. A few are cultivated as ornamentals.Huxley AJ, Griffiths M, Levy M, editors. 1992. ''The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening.'' The Macmillan Press Limited, London; The Stockton Press, New York.

Systematics

''Isertia'' was named by Johann von Schreber in 1789. The generic name honors the German botanist and explorer

Paul Erdmann Isert Paul Erdmann Isert (1756 – 21 January 1789) was a German botanist. Isert was born in Angermünde, Brandenburg, but educated in Berlin. He was the first scientist to identify the bird Red Bishop (Euplectes orix franciscana (Isert)'. He is also k ...

. ''Isertia'' is divided into two

sections Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sig ...

: section Cassupa and section Isertia. In section Cassupa, the fruit is a berry and the ovary usually has two or three

locule A locule (plural locules) or loculus (plural loculi) (meaning "little place" in Latin) is a small cavity or compartment within an organ or part of an organism (animal, plant, or fungus). In angiosperms (flowering plants), the term ''locule'' usu ...

s. In section Isertia, the fruit is a pyrene and the ovary usually has five or six locules.

Molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

studies have shown that ''Isertia'' is most closely

related ''Related'' is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on The WB from October 5, 2005, to March 20, 2006. It revolves around the lives of four close-knit sisters of Italian descent, raised in Brooklyn and living in Manhattan. The ...

to ''

Kerianthera ''Kerianthera'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to 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 h ...

'', a monospecific genus from Amazonian

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Species

*''

Isertia coccinea ''Isertia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It contains 15 species of shrubs or small trees that are indigenous to the neotropics. A few are cultivated as ornamentals.Huxley AJ, Griffiths M, Levy M, editors. 1992. ''The Ne ...

'' *''

Isertia haenkeana ''Isertia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Family (biology), family Rubiaceae. It contains 15 species of shrubs or small trees that are Indigenous (ecology), indigenous to the neotropics. A few are cultivated as Ornamental plant, ornamenta ...

'' *'' Isertia hypoleuca'' *'' Isertia krausei'' *'' Isertia laevis'' *'' Isertia longifolia'' *'' Isertia parviflora'' *'' Isertia pittieri'' *'' Isertia psammophila'' *'' Isertia reticulata'' *'' Isertia rosea'' *'' Isertia scorpioides'' *'' Isertia spiciformis'' *'' Isertia verrucosa'' *'' Isertia wilhelminensis''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6079734 Rubiaceae genera Taxa named by Aimé Bonpland