Virectaria

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}

{{automatic taxobox

| image = Virectaria_multiflora-NMNH-13768369.jpg

| image_caption = Virectaria multiflora, preserved specimen

| display_parents = 2

| taxon = Virectaria

| authority = Bremek.

| type_species =

| type_species_authority =

| synonyms =

• Phyteumoides Smeathman ex DC.
• Virecta Afzel. ex Sm.

}}

Virectaria is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus, known as Virecta until 1952, consists exclusively of tropical African species. It is a Guineo-Congolian genus, having its highest diversity in Lower Guinea but it also occurs in the Zambezian Region.{{cite journal|vauthors=Dessein S, Jansen S, Huysmans S, Robbrecht E, Smets E |year=2001|title=A morphological and anatomical survey of Virectaria (African Rubiaceae), with a discussion of its taxonomic position|journal=Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society|volume=137|pages=1–29|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8339.2001.tb01102.x|doi-access=free}} Verdcourt provided a revision in which he defined five species{{cite journal|author=Verdcourt B|year=1953|title= Remarks on the Classification of the Rubiaceae|journal= Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de l'État à Bruxelles|volume=28|issue=3|pages=209–281|doi=10.2307/3667090|jstor=3667090}} but three more were added later.{{cite book|author=Hallé N|year=1966|title=Famille des Rubiacées (1re partie). Flore du Gabon|edition=12|publisher=Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle|location=Paris}}{{cite journal|author=Hall JB|year=1972|title=A new species of Virectaria (Rubiaceae) from Ghana|journal=Kew Bulletin|volume=26|issue=3|pages=567–571|doi=10.2307/4120320|jstor=4120320|bibcode=1972KewBu..26..569H }} In 2001, a detailed morphological and anatomical study of the genus was conducted and a taxonomic survey and a key to the species was provided.