Order Rubiales

Order Rubiales

One large and one small family make up the Order Rubiales. The large family (Rubiaceae) forms a connecting link between Order Gentianales and Order Dipsacales. Alkaloids used as drugs are found in some plants in this order. Quinine, used to treat malaria, and quinidine, used to regulate the heart beat, are obtained from the bark of Cinchona trees. The name "Cinchona" comes from the Countess of Cinchon who was the wife of the Viceroy of Peru. The bark of the Quinine Tree Cinchona calisaya cured her of a fever in 1638 and her name was given to the tree. [CH] {SS}