Asclepiadoideae | |
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Matelea denticulata [1] | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Gentianales |
Family: | Apocynaceae |
Subfamily: | Asclepiadoideae Burnett |
Genera | |
See text |
The Asclepiadoideae are a subfamily of plants in the family Apocynaceae. Formerly, it was treated as a separate family under the name Asclepiadaceae, e.g. by APG II, and known as the milkweed family. [2] [3]
They form a group of perennial herbs, twining shrubs, lianas or rarely trees but notably also contain a significant number of leafless stem succulents. The name comes from the type genus Asclepias (milkweeds).
There are 348 genera, with about 2,900 species. They are mainly located in the tropics to subtropics, [4] especially in Africa and South America.
The florally-advanced tribe Stapelieae within this family contains several relatively familiar stem succulent genera, such as Orbea , Huernia, Stapelia and Hoodia . They are remarkable for the complex mechanisms which they have developed for pollination, independently parallel to the unrelated Orchidaceae, such as the grouping of their pollen into pollinia. The "fragrance" (or odor) of the flowers, often called "carrion flowers", attracts flies, the chief pollinators for these plants. Additionally, the color, appearance and texture of the flowers often is thought to resemble decaying flesh or raw meat to further entice pollination by flies.
Many new hybrids have been formed due to the unique fertilization method of the flowers.
Gilbert Thomas Burnett in 1835 is considered to be the first botanist to recognize a primary division of the family Apocynaceae using the name Asclepiadeae, [5] an ending now used for tribes rather than subfamilies. In 2014, Endress, Liede-Schumann and Meve recognised five tribes within the subfamily. [6] A molecular phylogenetic study in 2019 confirmed the distinctness of the five tribes, which were related as shown in the following cladogram: [7]
Asclepiadoideae |
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The assignment of genera to tribes is based on Endress, Liede-Schumann and Meve (2014), [6] with synonyms from Plants of the World Online as of December 2023 [update] .
These genera are not accepted within Asclepiadoideae by Endress et al. (2014), [6] but are accepted by Plants of the World Online. Tribal placements below are from GRIN-Global, where given.
Stapeliinae is a subtribe of flowering plants within the tribe Ceropegieae of the subfamily Asclepiadoideae of the family Apocynaceae. The subtribe comprises about 35 genera, including both the stem-succulent "stapeliads" and the horticulturally popular genera Brachystelma and Ceropegia. The largest number of genera are native to Africa, but a more limited number of genera are widespread in Arabia and Asia. Historically, a similarly circumscribed taxon was treated as a separate tribe, Stapelieae.
The genus Huernia consists of perennial, stem succulents from Eastern and Southern Africa and Arabia, first described as a genus in 1810.
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, hence the common name for several species is dog-strangling vine. Most species are non-succulent climbers or twiners. There is some evidence of toxicity.
Stephanotis is a genus of flowering plants first described in 1806. The name derives from the Greek stephanōtís fit for a crown, derivative of stéphanos (masculine) crown. It contains evergreen, woody-stemmed lianas with a scattered distribution in several tropical and subtropical regions.
Oxypetalum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described with this name in 1810. The genus is native to South America.
Dischidia is a genus of plants in the “dog-bane” family Apocynaceae, collectively known as the “milkweeds”. They are epiphytes, native to tropical areas of China, India as well as Bhutan’s southern borders, wherever minimal frost occurs. Additionally, they are known from most areas of Mainland Southeast Asia, including forested areas of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and some parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Several species are also native to Papua New Guinea and northeastern Australia.
Marsdenia is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae first described as a genus in 1810. It is named in honor of the plant collector and Secretary of the Admiralty, William Marsden. The plants are native to tropical regions in Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
Vincetoxicum is a genus of plants in the 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, now included in Vincetoxicum. The generic name means "poison-beater" in Botanical Latin because of the plants' supposed antidotal effects against snakebite.
Funastrum is a genus of flowering plant now in the family Apocynaceae. The name is derived from the Latin word funis, meaning "rope", and astrum, alluding to the twining stems. Members of the genus are commonly known as twinevines.
Rauvolfioideae is a subfamily of the flowering plant family Apocynaceae. Many species are woody lianas, others are shrubs or perennial herbs.
Periplocoideae is a subfamily of the dogbane plant family, Apocynaceae. It was not divided into tribes as of 2014.
Dischidanthus is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described as a genus in 1936. Species of the genus are native from the east Himalayas to south China and Peninsular Malaysia. It may be treated by some sources as a synonym of Marsdenia.
Tassadia is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae, first described as a genus in 1844. It is native primarily to South America, with one species extending north into Central America, S Mexico, and Trinidad.
Jobinia is a genus of flowering plants of the family Apocynaceae first described in 1885. It is native to South America and Central America.
Apteranthes is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Apocynaceae.
Ruehssia is a genus of plants in the family Apocynaceae. It is also in the Asclepiadoideae subfamily and Marsdenieae tribe.
Stephanotis arabica, synonyms including Dregea arabica and Marsdenia robusta, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae, native to Socotra and mainland Yemen. It was first described by Joseph Decaisne in 1844.