ASCLEPIADACEAE

 

Greek origin. Asklepois – God of medicine

 

Thorne treated Asclepiadaceae under Apocynaceae. Hutchinson segregated  Periplocaceae. Apocynaceae and Periplcoaceae are now considered as separate families. The family consists mostly twinners, herbs and shrubs often  with milky juice  Flowers hermaphrodite, regular, solitary or in umbels. Calyx inferior, imbricate.  Corolla hypogynous, gamopetalous, 5-lobed; tube short,  Stamens 5, adanate to gynoecium to form a structure known as gynostegium. Pollen grains are agglutinised to form one or two masses in each cell. This structure is known as pollinia /polliniarum. Ovary superior. Fruit often follicles. Seeds usually margined crowned with a tuft of long hairs at one end. Periplocaceae can be recognized by having free stamens, granular pollen and spathulate pollen carriers. The family Apocynaceae is closely allied to Asclepiadaceae. However, it differs in having a single style, absence of corona and translators.