 The geographic distribution of these fossils, coupled with the fact that they represent all three subfamilies, is indicative of an earlier origin for the family, probably in the Late Cretaceous or Paleocene.Although fossils dating back to the Cretaceous and Palaeocene have been referred to the family by various authors, none of these fossils has been confirmed as belonging to the Rubiaceae.The oldest confirmed fossils, which are fruits that strongly resemble those of the genus "Emmenopterys", were found in the Washington and are 48–49 million years old.