[Science News] – Meise Botanic Garden leads the International network for the Coffee family

Meise Botanic Garden is taking the lead of the Taxonomic Expert Network (TEN) for the plant family Rubiaceae within the international World Flora Online initiative. This confirms the Garden’s strong position in global botanical research as well as its long-standing tradition of studying this family.

The goal of World Flora Online is to develop a complete, reliable, and freely accessible digital inventory of all known plant species on Earth. Within this project, the Taxonomic Expert Networks play a key role: international groups of specialists who gather and update taxonomic knowledge on specific plant families. The result is a globally supported classification that can be used by researchers, policymakers, and conservationists.

The new network focuses on the Rubiaceae, also known as the coffee family. With approximately 14,200 species and 615 genera, it is one of the largest families of flowering plants. It occurs worldwide but is especially diverse in tropical and subtropical regions. In addition to economically important species such as coffee and medicinal plants like the cinchona tree, the family includes many species that play essential roles in ecosystems.

The Rubiaceae TEN brings together experts from around the world to improve the taxonomy of this extensive family. It draws on various sources, including morphological characteristics, DNA research, and regional expertise. The aim is to develop a stable and up‑to‑date taxonomic “backbone” within the World Flora Online. This helps improve data quality, avoid duplication of effort, and support research on biodiversity, ecology, and conservation.

Under the leadership of Brecht Verstraete, Meise Botanic Garden will coordinate and further develop this international network. This role not only highlights the institution’s scientific expertise but also strengthens its international visibility and collaboration.

With this new responsibility, Meise Botanic Garden actively contributes to a better understanding of global plant diversity and to the protection of biodiversity.

Sources:

Rubiaceae TEN on WFO: https://about.worldfloraonline.org/tens/rubiaceae  
What and why WFO: https://about.worldfloraonline.org/faqs  

Photo : Guillaume Mamdy