Asclepiadoideae Explained

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.^[1]

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,^[2] 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.

Taxonomy

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, an ending now used for tribes rather than subfamilies. In 2014, Endress, Liede-Schumann and Meve recognised five tribes within the subfamily.^[3] A molecular phylogenetic study in 2019 confirmed the distinctness of the five tribes, which were related as shown in the following cladogram:

Tribes and genera

The assignment of genera to tribes is based on Endress, Liede-Schumann and Meve (2014),^[3] with synonyms from Plants of the World Online .

Asclepiadeae

Araujia Brot.
Asclepias L., including Aidomene Stopp, Odontostelma Rendle, Trachycalymma (K.Schum.)
Aspidoglossum E.Mey.
Aspidonepsis Nicholas
Astephanus R.Br.
Barjonia Decne.
Blepharodon Decne.
Calciphila Liede
Calotropis R.Br.
Cordylogyne E.Mey.
Cynanchum L., including Adelostemma Hook.f., Glossonema Decne., Metaplexis R.Br., Pentarrhinum E.Mey., Seshagiria Ansari, Sichuania M.G.Gilbert
Diplolepis R.Br.
Ditassa R.Br.
Fanninia Harv.
Fischeria DC.
Funastrum E.Fourn.
Glossostelma Schltr.
Gomphocarpus R.Br.
Gonolobus Michx.
Graphistemma (Champ.
Gyrostelma E.Fourn.
Hemipogon Decne.
Holostemma R.Br.
Hypolobus E.Fourn.
Ibatia Decne.
Jobinia E.Fourn.
Kanahia R.Br.
Lachnostoma Kunth
Macroscepis Kunth
Mahawoa Schltr.
Margaretta Oliv.
Matelea Aubl.
Metastelma R.Br.
Microloma R.Br.
Minaria T.U.P.Konno
Miraglossum Kupicha
Monsanima Liede
Morrenia Lindl.
Nautonia Decne.
Nephradenia Decne.
Odontanthera Wight
Oncinema Arn.
Orthosia Decne.
Oxypetalum R.Br.
Oxystelma R.Br.
Pachycarpus E.Mey.
Parapodium E.Mey.
Pentacyphus Schltr., including Tetraphysa Schltr.
Pentastelma Tsiang
Pentatropis R.Br.
Peplonia Decne.
Pergularia L.
Petalostelma E.Fourn.
Phaeostemma E.Fourn.
Pherotrichis Decne.
Philibertia Kunth, including Mitostigma Decne.
Pseudolachnostoma Morillo
Raphistemma Wall.
Rhyssostelma Decne.
Rhytidostemma Morillo
Rojasia Malme
Schizoglossum E.Mey.
Schizostephanus Hochst.
Schubertia Mart.
Scyphostelma Baill.
Solenostemma Hayne
Stathmostelma K.Schum.
Stelmagonum Baill.
Stenostelma Schltr.
Tassadia Decne., including Stenomeria Turcz.
Tweedia Hook.
Tylodontia Griseb.
Vincetoxicum Wolf, including Merrillanthus Chun, Oncostemma K.Schum., Rhyncharrhena F.Muell.
Widgrenia Malme
Woodia Schltr.
Xysmalobium R.Br.

Ceropegieae

thumb|Ceropegia candelabrumthumb|Stapelia gigantea

Anisotoma Fenzl
Apteranthes J.C.Mikan
Australluma Plowes
Baynesia Bruyns
Boucerosia Wight
Brachystelma Sims
Caralluma R.Br.
Caudanthera Plowes
Ceropegia L.
Conomitra Fenzl
Desmidorchis Ehrenb.
Duvalia Haw.
Duvaliandra M.G.Gilbert
Echidnopsis Hook.f.
Edithcolea N.E.Br.
Emplectanthus N.E.Br.
Heterostemma Wight
Hoodia Sweet
Huernia R.Br.
Larryleachia Plowes
Lavrania Plowes
Leptadenia R.Br.
Monolluma Plowes
Neoschumannia Schltr.
Notechidnopsis Lavranos
Ophionella Bruyns
Orbea Haw., including Orbeanthus L.C.Leach
Orthanthera Wight
Pectinaria Haw.
Pentasacme Wall.
Piaranthus R.Br.
Pseudolithos P.R.O.Bally, including Anomalluma Plowes
Quaqua N.E.Br.
Rhytidocaulon P.R.O.Bally
Richtersveldia Meve
Riocreuxia Decne.
Sisyranthus E.Mey.
Socotrella Bruyns
Stapelia L.
Stapelianthus Choux
Stapeliopsis Pillans
Tavaresia Welw.
Tridentea Haw.
Tromotriche Haw.
Whitesloanea Chiov.

Eustegieae

Emicocarpus R.Br.
Eustegia K.Schum. & Schltr.

Fockeeae

Cibirhiza Bruyns
Fockea Endl.

Marsdenieae

Anatropanthus Schltr.
Anisopus N.E.Br.
Asterostemma Decne.
Campestigma Pierre
Cionura Griseb.
Cosmostigma Wight
Dischidia R.Br.
Dolichopetalum Tsiang
Gongronema (Endl.)
Gunnessia P.I.Forst.
Gymnema R.Br.
Heynella Backer
Hoya R.Br., including Cathetostemma Blume, Clemensiella Schltr.
Jasminanthes Blume
Lygisma Hook.f.
Marsdenia R.Br.
Oreosparte Schltr.
Pycnorhachis Benth.
Rhyssolobium E.Mey.
Sarcolobus R.Br., including Quisumbingia Merr.
Stephanotis Thouars, including Dregea E.Mey., Wattakaka Hassk.
Stigmatorhynchus Schltr.
Telosma Coville
Treutlera Hook.f.

Other genera

These genera are not accepted within Asclepiadoideae by Endress et al. (2014),^[3] but are accepted by Plants of the World Online. Tribal placements below are from GRIN-Global, where given.

Dalzielia Turrill – Marsdenieae (possible synonym of Marsdenia)^[4]
Decanema Decne. – Asclepiadeae (possible synonym of Cynanchum)^[5]
Dischidanthus Tsiang – Marsdenieae (possible synonym of Marsdenia)^[6]
Gymnemopsis Costantin – Marsdenieae (possible synonym of Marsdenia)^[7]
Kerbera E.Fourn. – Asclepiadeae^[8]
Leichhardtia R.Br.
Manothrix Miers
Periglossum Decne. – Asclepiadeae^[9]
Polystemma Decne., including Microdactylon^[10] – Asclepiadeae (possible synonym of Matelea)^[11]
Ptycanthera Decne. – Asclepiadeae (possible synonym of Matelea)^[12]
Ruehssia H.Karst. ex Schltdl. – Marsdenieae (possible synonym of Marsdenia)^[13]
Schistonema Schltr. – Asclepiadeae (possible synonym of Tweedia)^[14]
Vailia Rusby – Asclepiadeae (possible synonym of Blepharodon)^[15]

External links

Notes and References

Book: English Names for Korean Native Plants . . 2015 . 978-89-97450-98-5 . Pocheon . 363 . 25 January 2017 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170525105020/http://www.forest.go.kr/kna/special/download/English_Names_for_Korean_Native_Plants.pdf . 25 May 2017 .
Book: Spellenberg, Richard . National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region . Knopf . 2001 . 978-0-375-40233-3 . rev . 347 . 1979.
Endress . Mary E. . Liede-Schumann . Sigrid . Meve . Ulrich . An updated classification for Apocynaceae . Phytotaxa . 159 . 3 . 175–194 . February 2014 . 1179-3163 . 10.11646/phytotaxa.159.3.2 .
Web site: Gen. Dalzielia Turrill . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Decanema Decne. . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Dischidanthus Tsiang . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Gymnemopsis Costantin . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Kerbera E.Fourn. . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Periglossum Decne. . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Polystemma cordatum (Brandegee) L.O.Alvarado. 77297239-1. 2023-11-30. cs1.
Web site: Gen. Polystemma Decne. . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Ptycanthera Decne. . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Ruehssia H. Karst. ex Schltdl. . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Schistonema Schltr. . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .
Web site: Gen. Vailia Rusby . . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 2023-12-01 .