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Common name: 
Coutoubea ramosa: Fregosillo, Lengua pia poco
Coutoubea reflexa: Cadena

Latin name and synonyms: Coutoubea Aubl., Hist. Pl. Guiane 72, t. 27: 28 (1775).

Species:  Five species.

Distribution:  Tropical South America (5 species) and one species also occurs in Central America (C. spicata).

Habitat:  Savannas, grasslands, open areas, roadsides.

Characteristics:   Annual herbs (rarely perennials, but short-lived). Flowers 4-merous, in dense spikes. Corolla white, salvershaped, tube same length as as lobes. Stamens inserted in upper part of corolla tube; filaments with scale-like basal appendages; anthers long, sagittate, do not become curved after anthesis. Pollen released as tetrads.

Evolution and related plants:   This genus belong to subtribe Coutoubeinae in the tribe Chironieae.  Other genera in this neotropical subtribe are Deianira, Schultesia, and Symphyllophyton.

Economic uses:  

Notes: 

Accepted species (synonyms in parenthesis) and their distribution:

References and publications: 

Guimaraes, E. F. & V. L. G. Klein. 1985. Revisão taxonômica do gênero Coutoubea Aublet (Gentianaceae). Rodriguésia (Rio de Janaeiro) 37: 21-45.

Struwe, L., J. W. Kadereit, J. Klackenberg, S. Nilsson, M. Thiv, K. B. von Hagen, & V. A. Albert. 2002. Systematics, character evolution, and biogeography of Gentianaceae, including a new tribal and subtribal classification. Pp. 21-309. In: L. Struwe & V. A. Albert (eds.), Gentianaceae: Systematics and Natural History, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Struwe, L., P. J. M. Maas, O. Pihlar, & V. A. Albert. 1999. Gentianaceae. Pp. 474-542. In: P. E. Berry, K. Yatskievych, & B. K. Holst, editors. Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana, vol. 5. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis. (images)

Weaver, R. E., Jr. & L. Rüdenberg. 1975. Cytotaxonomic notes on some Gentianaceae. J. Arnold Arb. 56: 211-222.

©  Lena Struwe, 2003