Rubiaceae (Coffee Family)

Coffee (Coffea)- contains the alkaloid caffeine, which prolongs the life of useful hormones, especially adrenaline. Gives us the JOLT we crave in our fast paced lives. Also used as an anti-emetiic to keep you from vomiting. Ipecac (cephealis), also a member of the rubiaceae family, induces vomiting. Quite the sibling rivalry! Coffee can also be used as a fashion accessory because of the glamorization of boutique cafés such as Starbucks over the past 15 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caffeine.svg Caffeine molecule

Coffea arabica treehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coffee_Tree.JPG

Celebrities sipping ‘boutique coffee,’ Starbuckshttp://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2009/02/25/is-starbucks-finally-becoming-a-green-bean

Galium - Found mostly in the northern hemispheres. Also known as bedstraw. Bedstraw, also referred to as lady’s straw, was used for red dye in Anglo Saxon England.

Gallium Planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flowers_February_2008-4.jp

Quinine (Cinchona)- anti malarial alkaloid, which is used as an anit-inflammatory and fever reducer

Quinine Planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cinchona.pubescens01.jpg

Quinine Moleculehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quinine-2D-skeletal.png

Used for medicinal purposes to treat inflammation

Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume, a very popular gardenia scent.

http://www.musingsofamuse.com/2010/07/marc-jacobs-daisy-pop-art-eau-de-parfum-spray.html

Gardenia flowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gardeniaflower.jpg

Gardenia- A flowering plant that produces a beautifully floral aroma used in many perfumes. In some cases, the bloom is used to make yellow dye for food and clothes. $ Economic Value $

•Coffee is the 2nd most frequently traded commodity on Earth (oil is 1st).•Retail sales of coffee reach about $70 billion dollars per year.•Small coffee farms provide a living for over 20 million people.•Gardenia flowers are frequently used in perfumes and other beauty products for their pleasant aroma.•Many people would not be able to make it through the workday without the friendly jolt from caffeine.

Greatful coffee fanshttp://www.thebeanstock.com/fun-stuff.html

Sources:http://www.firstscience.com/home/perspectives/editorials/coffee-the-market-part-1-of-2-the-economics-of-coffee-page-2-1_1816.html•Botany in a Day

Plant Anatomy- Flowers are regular and typically bisexual- 4 or 5 separate sepals - 4 or 5 united petals- 4 or 5 stamens - Ovaries are usually in the interior of the plant creating chamber-like structures- Most plants produce a capsule or berry with many seeds with the exception of Gallium, which produces fruit with two fuzzy seeds. 

2 coffee beans are produced in each of the red cherries

Ideal Environment•Mostly Southern-Hemisphere tropical regions•The 20 genera in the United States grow mostly in Florida

500 genera with 6,000 to 7,000 species

Cultural Impact

Tropical Environmenthttp://uploads.cycleapp.com/florg7j8oq6o1t/file.jpg

• In the past 20 years, coffee’s popularity has skyrocketed• ‘Boutique’ coffee cafés, such as Starbucks and Caribou have turned coffee into a style icon as well as a gourmet indulgence•Popular coffee logos are recognized all over the world and seen as a sign of sophistication.

http://www.earthfrisk.com/uploads_user/1000/2/628.jpg

Starbucks rules the worldhttp://assets.portfolio.com/images/site/editorial/Flash/interactive-feature/2008/06/starbucks/starbucks-large.jpg

http://www.reggiesroast.com/images/coffee_bean_anatomy.jpg