What is "nauclea"

Nauclea \Nauclea\ prop. n. A small genus of evergreen tropical shrubs or trees with smooth leathery leaves.

Syn: genus Nauclea.

Nauclea is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. The species are evergreen trees or shrubs that are native to the paleotropics. The terminal vegetative buds are usually strongly flattened. The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek words naus, meaning "ship" and kleio, meaning "to close". It refers to the resemblance of the cells of the capsule to a ship's hull.