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Apocynaceae
Apocynum cannabinum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae Juss.
Type genus
Apocynum L.
Synonyms
Asclepiadaceae Borkh. (nom. cons.) Periplocaceae Schltr. (nom. cons.) Plumeriaceae Horan. Stapeliaceae Horan. Vincaceae Vest Willughbeiaceae J. Agardh

Apocynaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family,^[1] (Greek for "away from dog" since some taxa were used as dog poison).^[2] Members of the family are native to the European, Asian, African, Australian, and American tropics or subtropics, with some temperate members.^[1] The former family Asclepiadaceae (now known as Asclepiadoideae) is considered a subfamily of Apocynaceae and contains 348 genera. A list of Apocynaceae genera may be found here.

Many species are tall trees found in tropical forests, but some grow in tropical dry (xeric) environments. Also perennial herbs from temperate zones occur. Many of these plants have milky latex, and many species are poisonous if ingested. Some genera of Apocynaceae, such as Adenium, have milky latex apart from their sap, and others, such as Pachypodium, have clear sap and no latex

Taxonomy

As of 2012, the family was described as comprising some 5,100 species, in five subfamilies:^[3]

• 
  Apocynoideae Burnett, 1835


• 
  Asclepiadoideae Burnett, 1835 (incorporating the Asclepiadaceae)


• 
  Periplocoideae Endl., 1838


• 
  Rauvolfioideae Kostel., 1834


• 
  Secamonoideae Endl., 1838

The former family Asclepiadaceae is included in Apocynaceae according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III (APG III) modern, largely molecular-based system of flowering plant taxonomy.^[4]
An updated classification, including 366 genera, 25 tribes and 49 subtribes, was published in 2014.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

Species in this family are distributed mainly in tropical regions:

• In the tropical forests and swamps of Indomalaya: small to very tall evergreen trees up to 80 m tall, often with buttress roots, such as Alstonia and Dyera
  


• In northern Australia: small evergreen trees such as Alstonia, Alyxia, Cerbera and Ochrosia
  


• In deciduous forests of Africa, India and Indo-China: smaller trees such as Carissa, Wrightia and Holarrhena
  


• In tropical America, India, Myanmar and Malaya: evergreen trees and shrubs, such as Rauvolfia, Tabernaemontana and Acokanthera
  


• In Central America: Plumeria, or the frangipani, with its waxy white or pink flowers and a sweet scent


• In South America, Africa and Madagascar: many lianas, such as Landolphia
  


• In the Mediterranean region: Nerium, with the well-known oleander or be-still tree (Nerium oleander)


• The only genera found in temperate Europe away from the Mediterranean are Vinca (Apocynoideae) and Vincetoxicum (Asclepiadoideae). Also Asclepias syriaca is an invasive weed (e. g., in many areas of Ukraine).


• In North America: Apocynum, dogbane or Indian hemp, including Apocynum cannabinum, a traditional source of fiber


• In continental southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe) and Madagascar, except for the humid evergreen forest of the eastern side of Madagascar, and never above 2000 m for the entire island: Pachypodium and Fockea
  

Description

Alstonia scholaris, arrangement of leaves

Growth pattern

The dogbane/milkweed^[2] family includes annual plants, perennial herbs, stem succulents, woody shrubs, trees, or vines.^[1][6] Most exude a milky sap with latex, if injured.^[7]

Leaves and stems

Leaves are (simple). Leaves may appear one at a time (singly) with each occurrence on alternating sides of the stem (alternate),^[6] but usually^{[citation needed]} occur in pairs or in whorls. When paired, they occur on opposite sides of the stem (opposite), with each pair occurring at an angle rotated 90° to the pair below it (decussate).

There is no stipule (a small leaf-like structure at the base of the leaf stem), or stipules are small and sometimes fingerlike.^[6]

Inflorescence and fruit

Flowers have radial symmetry (actinomorphic), and are borne in heads that are cymes or racemes, but are rarely fasciculate or solitary. They are perfect (bisexual), with a synsepalous, five-lobed calyx united into a tube at the base. Inflorescences are terminal or axillary. Five petals are united into a tube with four or five epipetalous stamens. The style is expanded at the apex into a massive clavuncle just below the stigma. The ovary is usually superior, bicarpellary, and apocarpous, with a common fused style and stigma.

The fruit is a drupe, a berry, a capsule, or a follicle.

Gallery

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  Alyxia oliviformis
  

  
  

  
  


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  Catharanthus pusillus
  

  
  

  
  


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  Cryptolepis buchananii
  

  
  

  
  


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  Holarrhena pubescens
  

  
  

  
  


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  Saba senegalensis
  

  
  

  
  


• 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Stapelia gigantea
  

  
  

  
  


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  Wrightia tinctoria
  

  
  

  
  


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  Vinca major
  

  
  

  
  


• 
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Wrightia antidysenterica
  

  
  

  
  

Ecology

Several genera are preferred larval host plants for the Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus).^[8]

Toxicity

All plant-derived (i.e., phytochemical) natural products have some inherent toxicity on ingestion^{[citation needed]}, and many are very toxic, even lethal. This is true of many species of plants from the Apocynaceae family, with some being extremely poisonous if parts are ingested, or if they are not handled properly. Genera containing cardiac glycosides— Acokanthera, Apocynum, Cerbera, Nerium, Thevetia, Strophanthus, etc.^{[citation needed]}—have therapeutic ranges, but are often associated with accidental poisonings, in many cases lethal (see below). Alkaloid-producing species like Rauvolfia, Catharanthus, and Tabernathe are likewise the source of compounds with possible therapeutic ranges, but which have significant associated toxicities if not taken in appropriate doses and in controlled fashion.^{[citation needed]}

Uses

Several plants of the Apocynaceae family members have had economic uses in the past. Several are sources of important natural products—pharmacologic tool compounds and drug research candidates, and in some cases actual prescription drugs.^{[citation needed]}Cardiac glycosides, which affect heart function, are a ready example.^{[citation needed]} Members studied and known to have such glycosides include the Acokanthera, Apocynum, Cerbera, Nerium, Thevetia and Strophanthus.^{[citation needed]}Rauvolfia serpentina (Indian snakeroot) synthesizes the alkaloids reserpine and rescinnamine, which are of interest in studies of the treatment of high blood pressure,^{[citation needed]} as well as some forms of psychosis.^{[citation needed]}Catharanthus roseus yields alkaloids studied with regard to the treatment of cancer.^{[citation needed]} Certain species of the genus Tabernanthe, most notably Tabernanthe Iboga contain tryptamine alkaloids such as ibogaine in the roots.^{[citation needed]}

Several genera are grown as ornamental plants, including Amsonia (bluestar), Nerium (oleander), Vinca (periwinkle), Carissa (Natal plum), Allamanda (golden trumpet), Plumeria (frangipani), Thevetia (lucky nut), Mandevilla (Savannah flower), and Adenium (desert-rose).^{[citation needed]}

In addition, the genera Landolphia, Hancornia, Funtumia and Mascarenhasia were used as a commercial source of inferior rubber (see Congo rubber, made mostly from various Landolphia species harvested in the wild).^{[citation needed]}

There may be reports of limited dietary uses of plants from this family,^{[clarification needed]}—see however the section on toxicity above. The edible flower of Fernaldia pandurata (common name: loroco) is a popular part of El Salvadorian and Guatemalan cooking.^{[citation needed]}Carissa (Natal plum) produces an edible fruit.^{[citation needed]} The genus Apocynum was reportedly used as a source of fiber by Native Americans.^{[citation needed]} The aromatic fruit juice from Saba comorensis (syn. Landolphia comorensis, the Bungo or Mbungo fruit) is a popular drink,^{[verification needed][citation needed]} on Pemba Island and other parts of coastal Tanzania.^[9]

Finally, ethnopharmacologic and ethnotoxicologic uses are also known. Ibogaine-type alkaloids from the roots of genus Tabernathe have been used in traditional African tribal ceremonies as a source of hallucinogens,^{[citation needed]} and have been studied with regard to the treatment of drug addiction.^{[citation needed]} The juice of Acokanthera species such as A. venenata and the milky juice of the Namibian Pachypodium have reportedly been used as venom for arrow tips by the San people,^{[citation needed]} though others have reported that Pachypodium do not produce such milk.^[10]

References

External links

• 
  Apocynaceae in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database
  


• 
  Media related to Apocynaceae at Wikimedia Commons


• 
  Data related to Apocynaceae at Wikispecies