Apocynaceae

(includes Asclepiadaceae)

Shrubs, climbers or herbs, with white, yellow, orange or colourless latex. Leaves opposite, entire, without stipules. Flowers in cymes or solitary, regular, bisexual. Sepals 5, imbricate in the bud. Corolla connate, 5-lobed; the lobes usually contorted or almost valvate in the bud. Stamens 5, epipetalous, alternating with the corolla segments; anthers erect, usually connivent or stamens and style forming gynostemium and corona present. Ovary superior, 1–2-locular or consisting of 2 carpels united only by the styles; stigma usually dilated. Fruit usually 2 follicles or a berry. Seeds mostly pendulous, often with a tuft of long hairs ( coma ). 390 gen., widespread, mostly trop. and subtrop.