The ovary of Rutidea is bicarpellate and incompletely bilocular (septum be- tween locules not continuous). A solitary campylotropous ovule, ascending from a basal placenta, occurs in each locule. Based on their orientation and degree of curving, three ovule types are distinguished. As a consequence of the abortion of one ovule, the drupa- ceous fruits are one-seeded. The incomplete septum allows the spherical seed to fill out the entire interior of the fruit. The seeds are deeply ruminate (Spigelia type). They grow very fast, producing folds and undulations (ruminations) which invade and totally occupy the second locule, almost enveloping the aborted ovule. Comparisons with other Rubia- ceae (especially Pavetteae), show that hemianatropy and campylotropy occur more often in the Rubiaceae than hitherto accepted. The study corroborates the close affinity between Rutidea and Nichallea.