Spermacoce or false buttonweed[2] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae.

[3] Its highest diversity is found in the Americas, followed by Africa, Australia and Asia.

The species are herbs or small shrubs with small- to medium-sized, four-lobed flowers arranged in capitate inflorescences.

The corolla is variable in colour, often white, but also all shades of blue, pink and maroon.

[4] Spermacoce is a highly diverse genus with over 290 species in many tropical and subtropical places around the globe.