The Cariri region of Paraíba, situated in a depression of the Borborema plateau, is considered to be a priority area for caatinga conservation. The objective of this study was to survey the Rubiaceae of the Cariri region of Paraíba, thus contributing to our knowledge of the region's flora. Fifteen genera (Borreria, Chiococca, Cordiera, Coutarea, Diodella, Guettarda, Leptoscella, Manettia, Mitracarpus, Oldenlandia, Randia, Richardia, Spermacoce, Staelia and Tocoyena) comprising 21 species were found and identified. The study also includes a key to species and descriptions, illustrations and comments of each species studied.
caatinga; flora; semiarid
