What is "neonauclea"

Neonauclea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It comprises about 65 species. Three of these were described as recently as 2008. Neonauclea is a genus of shrubs and trees They are indigenous to China, India, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia. Neonauclea tsaiana has some limited use as lumber.

Neonauclea was named in 1915 by Elmer Drew Merrill. The generic name is derived from the related genus Nauclea and the Greek word neos, meaning "new".

The biological type for Neonauclea consists of those specimens that Merrill called Neonauclea obtusa. These are now included in Neonauclea excelsa.

The circumscription of Neonauclea is uncertain. Molecular phylogenetic studies indicate that some related genera are probably embedded in it.