Asclepiadaceae

According to APG II

Angiosperm Phylogeny Group

The Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, or APG, refers to two international groups of systematic botanists who came together to try to establish a consensus view of the taxonomy of flowering plants that would reflect new knowledge in angiosperm relationships based upon molecular systematics studies...

, the Asclepiadaceae is a former plant

Plant

Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The scientific study of plants, known as botany, has identified about 350,000 extant species of plants, defined as seed plants,...

 family now treated as a subfamily (subfamily Asclepiadoideae) in the Apocynaceae

Apocynaceae

The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs...

 (Bruyns 2000).

They form a group of perennial herb

Herb

A herb is a plant that is valued for flavor, scent, or other qualities. Herbs are used in cooking, as medicines, and for spiritual purposes....

s, twining shrub

Shrub

A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 5-6 m tall. A large number of plants can be either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...

s, liana

Liana

A liana is any of various long-stemmed, usually woody vines that are rooted in the soil at ground level and use trees, as well as other means of vertical support, to climb up to the canopy in order to get access to well-lit areas of the forest. Lianas are especially characteristic of tropical moist...

s or rarely tree

Tree

A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...

s but notably also contain a significant number of leafless stem succulents, all belonging to the order Gentianales

Gentianales

Gentianales are an order of flowering plants, included within the asterid group of dicotyledons.The circumscription of Gentiales in the Cronquist system included a broadly defined Loganiaceae , Retziaceae, Gentianaceae, Saccifoliaceae, Apocynaceae, and Asclepiadaceae...

. The name comes from the type genus

Genus

In biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...

 Asclepias

Asclepias

Asclepias L. , the milkweeds, is a genus of herbaceous perennial, dicotyledonous plants that contains over 140 known species...

(milkweeds).

There are 348 genera

Genus

In biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...

, with about 2,900 species

Species

In biology, a species is:* a taxonomic rank or* a unit at that rank ....

. They are mainly located in the tropics to subtropics, especially in Africa and South America.

The florally advanced tribe Stapeliae

Stapeliae

The genera of plants within the tribe Stapeliae are all to varying degrees stem succulents. Many of the species resemble cacti, though are not closely related, as an example of convergent evolution. The stems are often angular, mostly four-angled in cross-section, but in some species there are...

 within this family contain the relatively familiar stem succulent genera

Genus

In biology, a genus is a taxonomic unit used in the classification of living and fossil organisms. The term comes from Latin genus "descent, family, type, gender" , cognate with – genos, "race, stock, kin" ..In addition, genus is a taxonomic rank in the hierarchy In biology, a genus (plural:...

 such as Huernia

Huernia

The genus Huernia consists of some 60 species of stem succulents from Eastern and Southern Africa. The flowers are five-lobed, usually somewhat more funnel- or bell-shaped than in the closely related genus Stapelia, and often striped vividly in contrasting colours or tones, some glossy, others matt...

, Stapelia

Stapelia

The genus Stapelia consists of around 40 species of low growing, spineless, stem succulent plants, predominantly from South Africa. The flowers of certain species, most notably Stapelia gigantea, can reach 41 cm in diameter when fully open...

and Hoodia

Hoodia

Hoodia is a genus of 13 species in the flowering plant family Apocynaceae, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. They are stem succulents, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus family...

. They are remarkable for the complex mechanisms they have developed for pollination, which independently parallel the unrelated Orchidaceae

Orchidaceae

Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, is the largest family of the flowering plants . Its name is derived from the genus Orchis....

, especially in the grouping of their pollen

Pollen

Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement between the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...

 into pollinia. The fragrance from the flowers, often called "carrion", attracts flies. The flies pollinate the flowers.

Many new hybrids have been formed due to the unique fertilization method of the flowers.

Genera

Absolmsia Absolmsia Absolmsia is a genus of flowering plants of the family Apocynaceae, also classified in Apocynaceae, of two species, native to Southwest of China and Borneo.-Species:*Absolmsia oligophylla Tsiang. China: Yunnan.... Adelostemma Aidomene Amblyopetalum Amblystigma Anatropanthus Anisopus Anisotoma Anomotassa Araujia Araujia Araujia is a small genus of perennial vines in the dogbane family. There are about five species native to South America.Species include:*Araujia megapotamica*Araujia sericifera - white bladderflower, cruel vine-External links:**... Asclepias Asclepias Asclepias L. , the milkweeds, is a genus of herbaceous perennial, dicotyledonous plants that contains over 140 known species... Aspidoglossum Astephanus Barjonia Belostemma Belostemma Belostemma is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae. It contains three species:* Belostemma cordifolium P.T.Li* Belostemma hitsutum Wall. ex Wight* Belostemma yunnanense Tsiang... Bidaria Biondia Biondia Biondia is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae.Species include:* Biondia chinensis, Schltr.... Blepharodon Blyttia Brachystelma Brachystelma Brachystelma is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae.Species include:* Brachystelma schinzii, N.E.Br.* Brachystelma schultzei, Bruyns* Brachystelma vahrmeijeri, Bruyns... Calotropis Calotropis Calotropis is a genus of plants that produce milky sap hence also commonly called milkweed. It is considered a common weed in some parts of the world. The flowers are fragrant and are often used in making 'floral tassels' in some mainland Southeast Asian cultures. Fibers of these plants are called... Campestigma Caralluma Caralluma Caralluma is a genus of plants consisting of about 120 species. Once classified in the family Asclepiadaceae, it is now in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae of the dogbane family Apocynaceae. Most of the species occur in Africa, including several taxa valued by people for their medicinal properties... Ceropegia Ceropegia Ceropegias are an interesting group of plants which have attracted much attention from botanists, horticulturalists, gardeners, succulent enthusiasts. Carl Linnaeus, who first described this genus in volume 1 of his Species plantarum, which appeared in 1753, thought that the flowers looked like a... Cibirhiza Cionura Clemensiella Conomitra Cordylogyne Corollonema Cosmostigma Costantina Cyathostelma Cynanchum Cynanchum Cynanchum is a genus of about 300 species including some swallowworts, belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The taxon name comes from Greek kynos and anchein , referring to the toxicity of these plants. Hence the common name for several species is dog-strangling vine... Dactylostelma Dalzielia Decabelone Decanema Decanemopsis Dicarpophora Diplolepis Diplostigma Dischidanthus Dischidia Dischidia Dischidia is a genus of plants in the Milkweed family, Asclepiadaceae. It comprises about 80 known species which all grow as epiphytes and are native to tropical areas of China, India and most areas of Indo-China. Dischidia are closely aligned with the sister genus Hoya... Ditassa Dittoceras Dolichopetalum Dolichostegia Dorystephania Dregea Drepanostemma Duvalia Duvalia Studied by Haw. in Syn. Pl. Succ., 44 .- Albers & Meve, Asclepiadaceae : this genus is valid. Found in South Africa & Tropical Africa. Well defined by disc-like corona and stipitate gynostegium. 17 species recognised. Etymology: for Henri Auguste Duval French physician and botanist. Closely... Duvaliandra Echidnopsis Edithcolea Emicocarpus Emplectranthus Eustegia Fanninia Fischeria Fischeria Fischeria is a genus of tachinid flies in the family Tachinidae..... Fockea Folotsia Frerea Funastrum Genianthus Glossonema Glossostelma Gomphocarpus Gongronema Gonioanthelma Goniostemma Goniostemma Goniostemma is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae. It contains the following species :* Goniostemma punctatum, Tsiang & P.T.Li... Gonolobus Gonolobus Gonolobus is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Gonolobus campii, Morillo* Gonolobus condurango* Gonolobus saraguranus, Morillo* Gonolobus stephanotrichus* Gonolobus taylorianus... Graphistemma Gunnessia Gymnema Gymnemopsis Harmandiella Hemipogon Hemipogon Hemipogon is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...

Heterostemma Heynella Hickenia Holostemma Holostemma Holostemma is a genus of two species of flowering plants belonging to the plant family Asclepiadaceae, now considered to be part of the Apocynaceae. They are native to southern Asia.Selected species... Hoodia Hoodia Hoodia is a genus of 13 species in the flowering plant family Apocynaceae, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. They are stem succulents, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus family... Hoya Hoya Hoya is a genus of 200-300 species of tropical climbing plants in the family Apocynaceae , native to southern Asia , Australia, and Polynesia. Common names for this genus are waxplant, waxvine, waxflower or simply hoya... Hoyella Huernia Huernia The genus Huernia consists of some 60 species of stem succulents from Eastern and Southern Africa. The flowers are five-lobed, usually somewhat more funnel- or bell-shaped than in the closely related genus Stapelia, and often striped vividly in contrasting colours or tones, some glossy, others matt... Huerniopsis Hypolobus Ischnostemma Jacaima Janakia Jobinia Kanahia Karimbolea Kerbera Labidostelma Lagoa Lavrania Lavrania Lavrania is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Lavrania haagnerae, Plowes... Leichardtia Leptadenia Lhotzkyella Lugonia Lygisma Macroditassa Macropetalum Macroscepis Mahafalia Mahawoa Manothrix Margaretta Marsdenia Marsdenia Marsdenia is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae.Species include:* Marsdenia australis,* Marsdenia condurango,* Marsdenia erecta, grows in Iran, Near East and South-West Asia* Marsdenia robusta, Balf.f.... Matelea Matelea Matelea is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae. There are about 200 species.Species include:* Matelea chimboracensis, Morillo* Matelea ecuadorensis, Morillo* Matelea fimbriatiflora, Morillo* Matelea harlingii, Morillo... Melinia Meresaldia Merrillanthus Metaplexis Metastelma Metastelma Metastelma is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae.Species include:* Metastelma anegadense, Britton* Metastelma purpurascens, Benth.... Micholitzea Microdactylon Microloma Microstelma Miraglossum Mitostigma Morrenia Nautonia Nematostemma Neoschumannia Neoschumannia Neoschumannia is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae. It contains the following species :* Neoschumannia kamerunensis, Schltr.... Nephradenia Notechidnopsis Odontanthera Odontostelma Oncinema Oncostemma Ophionella Orbea Orbeanthus Orbeopsis Oreosparte Orthanthera Orthosia Orthosia Orthosia is a genus of moths of the Noctuidae family.-Species:* Orthosia achsha* Orthosia acutangula* Orthosia addenda* Orthosia agravens* Orthosia albescens* Orthosia albiceps Hampson, 1894... Oxypetalum Oxystelma Pachycarpus Pachycymbium Papuastelma Parapodium Pectinaria Pectinaria Pectinaria may refer to:*Pectinaria , a genus of fanworms*Pectinaria Cordem., a synonym for the orchid genus Angraecum... Pentabothra Pentacyphus Pentarrhinum Pentasachme Pentastelma Pentastelma Pentastelma is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae. It contains the following species :* Pentastelma auritum, Tsiang & P.T.Li... Pentatropis Peplonia Pergularia Pergularia Pergularia is a genus of the botanical family Asclepiadaceae.... Periglossum

Petalostelma Petopentia Pherotrichis Piaranthus Platykeleba Pleurostelma Podandra Podostelma Prosopostelma Pseudolithos Ptycanthera Pycnoneurum Pycnorhachis Quaqua Quaqua The genus Quaqua falls within the tribe of plants known collectively as stapeliads. All stapeliads, including Quaqua, are old world stem-succulents. |accessdate=August 17, 2009}}... Quisumbingia Raphistemma Rhyncharrhena Rhynchostigma Rhyssolobium Rhyssostelma Rhytidocaulon Riocreuxia Rojasia Sarcolobus Sarcostemma Sarcostemma Sarcostemma is a genus of at least 35 species of plants in family Asclepiadaceae. These are known generally as climbing milkweeds or caustic bushes. They are found across Africa and tropical Asia, in Australia, and in parts of North America. These plants are perennial flowering shrubs with trailing... Schistogyne Schistonema Schizoglossum Schubertia Scyphostelma Secamone Secamone Secamone is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Secamone cuneifolia, Bruyns* Secamone racemosa, Klack* Secamone socotrana, Balf.f.... Secamonopsis Seshagiria Sisyranthus Solenostemma Sphaerocodon Spirella Stapelia Stapelia The genus Stapelia consists of around 40 species of low growing, spineless, stem succulent plants, predominantly from South Africa. The flowers of certain species, most notably Stapelia gigantea, can reach 41 cm in diameter when fully open... Stapelianthus Stapeliopsis Stathmostelma Steleostemma Stelmagonum Stelmatocodon Stenomeria Stenostelma Stigmatorhynchus Strobopetalum Stuckertia Swynnertonia Tassadia Tavaresia Telminostelma Telosma Tenaris Tenaris Tenaris is a subsidiary company of the Argentine group Techint. Is a global manufacturer and supplier of seamless and welded steel pipe products and provider of pipe handling, stocking and distribution services to the oil and gas, energy and mechanical industries.It is headquartered in Luxembourg... Tetracustelma Tetraphysa Thozetia Toxocarpus Treutlera Trichocaulon Trichosacme Trichosandra Tridentea Tridentea Tridentea is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Tridentea pachyrrhiza, L.C.Leach... Tromotriche Tweedia Tweedia Tweedia is a genus of one species of straggling perennial grown for its clear pale blue, star shaped flowers, which are long lasting and cut well.- Cultivation :... Tylophora Tylophora Tylophora is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Tylophora cameroonica, N.E.Br.* Tylophora indica* Tylophora urceolata, Meve... Tylophoropsis Tylophoropsis Tylophoropsis is a genus of lichenized fungi in the family Physciaceae; according to the 2007 Outline of Ascomycota, the placement in this family is uncertain. This is a monotypic genus, containing the single species Tylophoropsis nyeriana.... Vailia Vincetoxicopsis Vincetoxicum Vincetoxicum Vincetoxicum is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae. Although the species in Vincetoxicum have sometimes been included in Cynanchum, chemical and molecular evidence shows that Vincetoxicum is more closely related to Tylophora.... Voharanga Vohemaria White-Sloanea Widgrenia Woodia Xysmalobium

External links

• Stapeliads.info
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
• Asclepiad info from ig-ascleps.org