Overview
Herbs, shrubs, or rarely treelike, with milky or, less often, clear latex. Leaves simple, opposite or occasionally whorled, very rarely alternate, usually without obvious stipules, margin nearly always entire. Inflorescences terminal, axillary, or extra-axillary, cymose, often condensed and umbel-like, occasionally a racemelike bostrychium. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous, actinomorphic. Sepals joined at base only, often with 5 or more basal glands in the sinuses. Corolla sympetalous, reflexed to urceolate or salverform; lobes valvate or overlapping in bud to right or left. Corona usually present, inserted on corolla, stamens, or both. Stamens 5, usually inserted at base of corolla tube and adhering to stigma head to form gynostegium; filaments usually connate to form a tube enclosing ovaries; anthers 4-celled (Periplocoideae and Secamonoideae) or 2-celled (Asclepiadoideae), often with a membranous apical appendage; pollen tetrads contained loosely on a spatulate translator with a basal corpusculum (Periplocoideae), or pollen united into waxy pollinia, each attached through a caudicle (stalk) to the retinaculum (gland) between adjacent anthers to form a pollinarium, pollinia 2 (Asclepiadoideae) or 4 (Secamonoideae) per pollinarium. Ovaries 2, free, superior; ovules numerous. Styles connate; stigma head fleshy. Fruit of 1 or 2 follicles. Seeds numerous, strongly compressed, with a coma (a prominent basal tuft of silky hairs) . Chromosome number x = (8-) 11 (or 12) .
Some 250 genera and over 2000 species: widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, especially in Africa and southern South America, with a moderate representation in northern and southeastern Asia; 44 genera (four endemic) and 270 species (153 endemic) in China.
Some authorities include this family in the Apocynaceae. Genera 1-6 are sometimes placed in a separate family, the Periplocaceae, here regarded as a subfamily, Periplocoideae. Genera 7-10 belong to the Secamonoideae and the remaining genera to the Asclepiadoideae. Many Chinese taxa are known only from dried material, sometimes not well preserved, and it is likely that the study of living or spirit-preserved material could lead to a reassessment of the taxonomy of some of these endemic taxa.
All plant parts, especially the seeds and latex, are often poisonous. They contain various alkaloids and glycosides, many of which are used in medicine and as insecticides. A few succulent species (e.g., Stapelia gigantia N. E. Brown, Orbea pulchella (Masson) L. C. Leach, and O. variegata (Linnaeus) Haworth are grown by specialist collectors in China.[1]
Photos
Taxonomy
The Family Asclepiadaceae is further organized into finer groupings including:
- Subfamily (28): Agapanthoideae · Asclepiadoideae · Asteroideae · Cichorioideae · Cleomoideae · Epidendroideae · Ericoideae · Faboideae · Iridoideae · Ixioideae · Lardizabaloideae · Magnolioideae · Nepetoideae · Olethreutinae · Periplocoideae · Plumerioideae · Polemonioideae · Polygonoideae · Potentilloideae · Pyroideae · Ranunculoideae · Rhododendroideae · Scrophularioideae · Spiraeoideae · Staticoideae · Theoideae · Vaccinioideae · Violoideae
- Tribe (43): Allamandeae · Amaryllideae · Andromedeae · Androsaceae · Anemoneae · Antirrhineae · Asclepiadeae · Calceolarieae · Calluneae · Cardueae · Ceropegieae · Cheloneae · Cichorieae · Cleomeae · Coreopsideae · Cymbidieae · Diapensieae · Geeae ·
- Genus (532): Absolmsia · Acanthostemma · Acerates · Acomosperma · Acrocoryne · Acustelma · Adelostemma · Aechmolepis · Aidomene · Alexitoxicon · Amblyoglossum · Amblyopetalum · Amblystigma · Ampelamus · Ampelanus · Amphidetes · Amphistelma · Amphorella · Anantherix · Anatropanthus · Angolluma · Anisopus · Anisotoma · Anisotomaria · Anomalluma · Anomotassa · Anthanotis · Antiostelma · Antitoxicum · Aphanostelma · Apoxyanthera · Apteranthes · Arauja · Araujia · Argelia · Asclepias · Asclepiodora · Aslcepias · Aspidoglossum · Aspidonepsis · Astelma · Astephanus · Asterostemma · Astrostemma · Atherandra · Atherolepis · Atherolepsis · Aulostephanus · Australluma · Baeolepis · Ballyanthus · Barjonia · Baroniella · Barrowia · Baseonema · Basistelma · Batesanthus · Baxtera · Baynesia · Belonites · Belostemma · Bidaria · Biondia · Blepharanthera · Blepharodon · Blyttia · Borealluma · Boucerosia · Brachylepis · Brachystelma · Brachystelmaria · Buckollia · Bunburia · Bustelina · Bustelma · Calathostelma · Callaeolepium · Calostigma · Calotropis · Calyptranthera · Campelepis · Camptocarpus · Caralluma · Cardiocrinum · Caruncularia · Cathetostemma · Caudanthera · Centrostemma · Ceramanthus · Ceropegia · Chlorochlamys · Chlorocodon · Chlorocyathus · Chlorostelma · Choristigma · Chthamalia · Chymocormus · Cibirhiza · Cicerbita · Cinclia · Cionura · Clemensia · Clemensiella · Codonanthus · Coelostelma · Collyris · Colostephanus · Conchophyllum · Conocalpis · Conomitra · Cordylogyne · Corollonema · Cosmostigma · Costantina · Craterostemma · Crenulluma · Cryptolepis · Cryptolluma · Cryptolobus · Cryptostegia · Curinila · Curnilia · Curroria · Cyathella · Cyathostelma · Cyclodon · Cymanchum · Cynanchum · Cynoctonum · Cyrtoceras · Cyrtochilum · Cystidianthus · Cystostemma · Dactylostelma · Daemia · Dalzielia · Decaceras · Decalepis · Decanema · Decanemopsis · Decastelma · Desmidorchis · Dicarpophora · Dicerolepis · Dichaelia · Dictyanthus · Diplocyatha · Diploglossum · Diplolepis · Diplostigma · Dischidanthus · Dischidia · Dischidiopsis · Ditassa · Dittoceras · Doemia · Dolichopetalum · Dregea · Duvalia · Duvaliandra · Echidnopsis · Ecliptostelma · Ectadiopsis · Ectadium · Edithcolea · Elcomarhiza · Emicocarpus · Emplectanthus · Endotropis · Enslenia · Epistemma · Esmeraldia · Eustegia · Exolobus · Fanninia · Fimbristemma · Finlaysonia · Fischeria · Flanagania · Fockea · Folotsia · Fontellaea · Funastrum · Genianthus · Glaziostelma · Glossonema · Glossorhyncha · Glossostelma · Gomphocarpus · Gongronema · Gonioanthela · Goniostemma · Gonocrypta · Gonolobus · Gonolonbus · Gonostemom · Gonostemon · Gothofreda · Goydera · Graphistemma · Gunnessia · Gymnanthera · Gymnema · Gymnolaema · Gyrostelma · Haemax · Haplostemma · Harmandiella · Harpanema · Harrisonia · Hemidesmus · Hemipogon · Heterostemma · Heynella · Hickenia · Himantostemma · Holostema · Holostemma · Hoodia · Hoodiopsis · Hoya · Hoyopsis · Huernia · Huerniopsis · Husnotia · Huthamnus · Hybanthera · Hypolobus · Ibatia · Iphisia · Irmischia · Ischnolepis · Ischnostemma · Jacaima · Janakia · Jasminanthes · Jobinia · Kanahia · Karimbolea · Kerbera · Kompitsia · Krebsia · Labidostelma · Lachnostoma · Lagarinthus · Lagoa · Larryleachia · Lasiostelma · Lathnostoma · Lavrania · Leachia · Leichardtia · Leptadenia · Liedea · Lithocaulon · Lobostephanus · Lorostelma · Luckhoffia · Lugonia · Lygisma · Macroditassa · Macropelma · Macropetalum · Macroscepis · Madarosperma · Madorius · Mahafalia · Mahawoa · Maletea · Mangenotia · Margaretta · Marsdenia · Mastostigma · Matalea · Matelea · Meladerma · Menabea · Meresaldia · Merrillanthus · Metalepis · Metaplexis · Metastelma · Micholitzia · Micraster · Microdactylon · Microloma · Microstemma · Microstephanus · Miraglossum · Mitolepis · Mitostigma · Mondia · Monolluma · Morrenia · Myriopteron · Nautonia · Nematostemma · Nematuris · Neoschumannia · Nephradenia · Notechidnopsis · Obesia · Odontanthera · Odontostelma · Odontostephana · Oianthus · Oligoron · Omphalogonus · Omphalophthalma · Oncinema · Oncostemma · Ophionella · Orbea · Orbeanthus · Orbeopsis · Orthanthera · Orthosia · Otostemma · Oxypetalum · Oxystelma · Pachycarpus · Pachycymbium · Pachystelma · Parapodiopsis · Parapodium · Parquetina · Pattalias · Pectinaria · Pentabothra · Pentacyphus · Pentagonanthus · Pentanura · Pentarrhinum · Pentasachme · Pentasacme · Pentastelma · Pentatropis · Pentopetia · Pentopetiopsis · Peplonia · Pergularia · Periglossum · Periploca · Pervillaea · Pervillea · Petalonema · Petalostelma · Petalostemma · Petopentia · Phaeostemma · Pherotrichis · Philibertella · Philibertia · Phyllanthera · Physianthus · Physostelma · Piaranthus · Pilostigma · Platykeleba · Pleurostelma · Plocostemma · Podandra · Podanthes · Podostelma · Podostemma · Podostigma · Poicilla · Poicillopsis · Polyotus · Polystemma · Prosopostelma · Prosthecidiscus · Pseudibatia · Pseudolithos · Pseudomarsdenia · Pseudopectinaria · Pseudosarcolobus · Pseudowoodia · Pseusmagennetus · Pterophora · Pterostelma · Pterygocarpus · Ptycanthera · Ptycholepis · Pulvinaria · Pycnobregma · Pycnoneurum · Pycnorhachis · Pycnostelma · Quaqua · Raphiacme · Raphionacme · Raphistemma · Reinera · Rhaphionacme · Rhinolobium · Rhodostegiella · Rhynchanthera · Rhyncharrhena · Rhynchostigma · Rhyssolobium · Rhyssostelma · Rhytidocaulon · Richtersveldia · Riocreuxia · Rojasia · Roulinia · Rouliniella · Ruehssia · Rytidoloma · Sacleuxia · Sanguilluma · Sarcocodon · Sarcocyphula · Sarcolobus · Sarcophagophilus · Sarcorrhiza · Sarcostemma · Sarmasikia · Sattadia · Saurolluma · Schistogyne · Schistonema · Schizocorona · Schizoglossum · Schizostemma · Schizostephanus · Schlechterella · Schlechterianthus · Schollia · Schubertia · Sclepias · Scyphostelma · Secamone · Secamonopsis · Seshagiria · Seutera · Sichuania · Sicyocarpus · Sinomarsdenia · Siphonostelma · Sisyranthus · Socotranthus · Solanoana · Solenostemma · Somalluma · Sonninia · Spathidolepis · Spathulopetalum · Sperlingia · Sphaerocodon · Spiralluma · Spirella · Stapelia · Stapelianthus · Stapeliopsis · Stathmostelma · Stelmagonum · Stelmation · Stelmatocodon · Stelmatocrypton · Stenomeria · Stenostelma · Stephanotis · Stigmatorhynchus · Stissera · Stomatostemma · Streptocaulon · Streptomanes · Strobopetalum · Stultitia · Stylandra · Sulcolluma · Symphyoglossum · Symphysicarpus · Symphytonema · Systrepha · Tacazzea · Tachycalymma · Tainionema · Tanulepis · Tapeinostelma · Tassadia · Tavaresia · Telectadium · Telesilla · Telminostelma · Telosma · Tenaris · Tetracustelma · Tetraphysa · Thozetia · Toxocarpus · Trachycalymma · Traunia · Treutlera · Trichocaulon · Trichosacme · Trichosandra · Trichostelma · Tridentea · Triodoglossum · Triplolepis · Triplosperma · Tromotriche · Turrigera · Tweedia · Tylodontia · Tylophoropsis · Tympananthe · Urostelma · Urostephanus · Utleria · Vadulia · Vailia · Verlotia · Vicarya · Vietnamia · Vincetoxicopsis · Vincetoxicum · Voharanga · Vohemaria · Wattakaka · White-Sloanea · Whitesloanea · Widgrenia · Woodia · Xysmalobium · Zacateza · Zaczatea · Zucchellia · Zygostelma
- Species: ZipcodeZoo has pages for 9,233 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in the Family Asclepiadaceae.
Genera
Absolmsia
Absolmsia ( Astrostemma Benth.) is a genus of flowering plants of the family Apocynaceae, also classified in Apocynaceae, of two species, native to Southwest of China and Borneo. [more]
Acanthostemma
Acerates
Acomosperma
Acrocoryne
Acustelma
Adelostemma
Lianas. Leaves opposite, petiolate. Cymes extra-axillary, racemelike, pedunculate. Flowers small. Calyx glands 5. Corolla campanulate; lobes short, overlapping to right. Corona with up to 5 minute, membranous, triangular lobes; lobes inserted opposite anthers at base of stalked gynostegium, sometimes absent. Anther appendages oblong; pollinia 2 per pollinarium, ovoid, waxy, pendulous, translator arms threadlike, corpusculum ovoid. Stigma head club-shaped, apex exserted. Follicles usually solitary, pericarp papillose. Seeds flat, margin membranous, with white silky coma.[2] [more]
Aechmolepis
Aidomene
Alexitoxicon
Amblyoglossum
Amblyopetalum
Amblystigma
Ampelamus
Ampelanus
Amphidetes
Amphistelma
Amphorella
Amphorella is a genus of in the Ferussaciidae family. It contains the following species: [more]
Anantherix
Anatropanthus
Angolluma
Anisopus
Anisotoma
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Anisotomaria
Anomalluma
Anomotassa
Anthanotis
Antiostelma
Antitoxicum
Aphanostelma
Apoxyanthera
Apteranthes
Arauja
Araujia
Argelia
Argelia is a Portuguese and Spanish term for and may also mean: [more]
Asclepias
Herbs, base frequently woody. Leaves opposite or whorled, short petiolate. Cymes terminal and extra-axillary, erect, umbel-like, many flowered. Calyx glands 5-10. Corolla rotate, deeply parted; lobes reflexed, valvate or rarely overlapping to right. Corona lobes 5, inserted on gynostegium, erect, apex hooded, with an incurved, ligular-hornlike adaxial appendage. Stamens inserted at base of corolla tube; filaments connate into a tube; anther appendages incurved; pollinia 2 per pollinarium, pendulous. Stigma head conical. Follicles fusiform, apex acuminate. Seeds flat, with a long coma.[3] [more]
Asclepiodora
Aslcepias
Aspidoglossum
Aspidonepsis
Astelma
Astephanus
Asterostemma
A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia. [more]
Astrostemma
Atherandra
Atherolepis
Atherolepsis
Aulostephanus
Australluma
Australluma is a genus of in family Apocynaceae. [more]
Baeolepis
Ballyanthus
Barjonia
Baroniella
Barrowia
Baseonema
Basistelma
Batesanthus
Baxtera
Baynesia
Baynesia is a genus of in family Apocynaceae. [more]
Belonites
Belostemma
Lianas, slender, woody. Inflorescences extra-axillary; peduncle and pedicels slender. Sepals overlapping; basal glands 5. Corolla rotate; tube short; lobes valvate. Corona lobes 5, inserted at back of stamens, fleshy, horned-falcate, horizontally stellate spreading. Filaments connate into a tube; anther appendages membranous, broadly ovate, covering stigma head; pollinia 2 per pollinarium, subglobose, horizontal or suberect. Gynostegium exceeding corolla tube. Stigma head discoid.[4] [more]
Bidaria
Biondia
Lianas or twining herbs. Leaves linear to lanceolate, usually with minute, pale, adaxial dots. Inflorescences extra-axillary, with 1 to few, umbel-like, rarely elongated cymules. Sepals valvate, often with 5 basal glands. Corolla urceolate or campanulate, lobes valvate. Corona inserted at base of gynostegium, ringlike, shallowly 5-cleft or toothed. Filaments connate into a short tube; anther appendages incurved; pollinia 2 per pollinarium, oblong, pendulous. Stigma head discoid. Follicles usually 1, narrowly lanceolate in outline.[5] [more]
Blepharanthera
Blepharodon
Blyttia
Borealluma
Boucerosia
Brachylepis
Brachystelma
Herbs erect, perennial. Rootstock usually a subglobose tuber [sometimes a cluster of swollen roots]. Leaves opposite, sessile or subsessile. Inflorescences umbel-like or racemelike. Pedicel slender, short. Calyx with 5 basal glands. Corolla campanulate to subrotate; lobes erect or spreading, valvate. Corona double, attached to staminal column, outer series of 5 deeply 2-cleft lobes exceeding staminal column, inner series of 5 oblong lobes incumbent over stigma head, not or hardly exceeding staminal column. Filaments connate into a short tube; anthers without membranous apex; pollinia 2 per pollinarium, erect or ascending, with a translucent margin. Stigma head depressed. Follicles often linear, usually paired. Seeds comose.[6] [more]
Brachystelmaria
Buckollia
Bunburia
Bustelina
Bustelma
Calathostelma
Callaeolepium
Calostigma
Calotropis
Shrubs erect, canescent. Leaves opposite, broad, subsessile. Cymes extra-axillary or terminal, umbel-like, long pedunculate. Calyx with basal glands. Corolla bowl-shaped to subrotate, divided to middle; lobes valvate or overlapping to right. Corona lobes 5, adnate to gynostegium, fleshy, laterally compressed, apex with a tubercle on each side, with abaxial, basal, revolute spur. Filaments connate; anther appendages incurved; pollinia 2 per pollinarium, oblong, pendulous. Styles long; stigma head slightly convex. Follicles ovoid, subglobose, or oblong-lanceolate, mesocarp inflated.[7] [more]
Calyptranthera
Campelepis
Camptocarpus
Caralluma
Succulent, perennial, branched herbs. Stem erect, branched, 4-angled, glabrous. Leaves small caducous. Flowers single or few or many-flowered sessile lateral cymes or many-flowered inflorescence from the top of the stem. Calyx 5-partite, lobes ovate to linear-lanceolate, Corolla purple or yellowish with purple streaks, rotate or broadly campanulate, 5-lobed, valvate in bud. Corona double, attached to the staminal column; the outer corona of 5 deeply bifid segments; the innner corona of 5 linear segments incumbent on the anthers. Staminal column short, arising from the base of the corolla; anthers without appendages.