Introduction to the Apocynaceae Family

The Apocynaceae family is an important family to learn how to identify. It is a family of often showy, beautiful flowers that are frequently fragrant but also often highly poisonous if ingested. The name “dogbane” comes from this toxic nature that has poisoned livestock and dogs. The Apocynaceae was recently revised to include the former Asclepiadaceae, or milkweed, family. There is an excellent reason to do so based on molecular phylogenetics, and the two families are similar in their morphology and other properties. However, there are a few notable differences in the Asclepiadoideae subfamily that I have included in detail in the descriptions below.   

Common Botanical Description

If you’re new to plant morphology, this section is a perfect beginner’s description to teach you how to identify the Apocynaceae family, with no need to know any scientific jargon. Below is some additional information on uses of the Apocynaceae and morphology pictures you can use to help identify family members and, finally, pictures of individual species found in North America. But for researchers or those wanting to learn a more in-depth version, check out the Scientific Botanical Description below the images in addition to genus-level distribution data.

Leaves and Stems of Apocynaceae: Annual herbs to shrubs, woody vines, and trees, all having a characteristic milky white juice (latex) they release when damaged. Leaves are usually simple (not compound) and may be thin to thick and leathery. They are usually arranged in opposite pairs or whorls around the stem. In some species, the leaves are modified into spines, and the stem may appear cactus-like.

Flowers of Apocynaceae: Flowers are often large, showy, symmetrical, and come in whites, reds, blues, and yellows and may be fragrant, foul-smelling, or odorless. Petals are joined at the base to form a funnel or trumpet shape, often with twisted or contorted lobes in bud. Most flowers have nectaries at their base to attract pollinators.

Reproductive Features of Apocynaceae: There are 5 male parts (stamens) that are often fused to the female parts (ovary, style, and stigma) to create a unique central structure called a “gynostegium.” There are typically two superior ovaries (sit above where petals attach), with an often large and conspicuous style head on top that acts as a platform to receive pollen.

Fruits of Apocynaceae: The fruits are often fleshy berries or drupes (like a cherry with a hard central pit) or dry capsules that split open when ripe. The Asclepiadoideae subfamily in particular is well-known for its large pod-like capsules (follicles) containing numerous seeds accompanied by long silky hairs (comose), which allow them to disperse in the wind.

Uses of Apocynaceae 

Most parts of many members of the Apocynaceae family are poisonous, hence the common family name of dogbane, since it has been used to poison dogs and other animals. The sap of most is a milky latex, which is often toxic but can sometimes be used for medicine and rubber.

Many ornamentals come from this family, including Oleander, Frangipani, Carissa, Plumeria, etc. The Asclepiadoideae subfamily of the Apocynaceae is an important source of cultivated succulents or vines from Asclepias, Hoya, Araujia, Ceropegia, Stapelia, Caralluma, Decabelone, etc. Carissa carandas is the source of the edible natal plum. 

Wildlife Values of the Apocynaceae Family

Asclepias species are required by the famous monarch butterfly, which uses them for reproduction, depositing its eggs, which hatch into caterpillars that eat the leaves. The monarchs are able to eat the toxic sap without ill effects.

Morphology of Apocynaceae in North America

The first table shows general Apocynaceae family morphology, but then there is a second one below it showing morphology specific to the Asclepiadoideae subfamily of the Apocynaceae.

Some Apocynaceae Species Found in North America

Apocynoideae Subfamily

Adenium obesum – Sabi Star or Desert Rose

This is a drought-deciduous or evergreen shrub that is native to Africa but cultivated elsewhere. It has large swollen stems with a very enlarged swollen stem (caudex). Spiral leaves are clustered at branch tips. It has tubular pink flowers 4 – 5 cm wide with 5 petals.

Apocynum androsaemifolium – Spreading Dogbane

This is a branching herbaceous perennial with opposite and more or less egg-shaped to somewhat elliptical leaves. Flowers are small, bell-shaped, whitish-pink, and found mostly in terminal clusters like these. Native throughout North America.

Apocynum cannabinum – Indian Hemp

Erect, herbaceous branching perennial with usually purplish-green stems and with opposite lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves that usually have white hairs on the lower surface. Flowers are small greenish to cream-colored, usually in terminal inflorescences. Native throughout North America.

Cascabela ovata—Yellow Oleander

A perennial shrub or tree with spiral, moderately thick, and leathery leaves with prominent veins (pinnate). Flowers are large, showy, tubular, and yellow. The fruit is large, ~rounded and somewhat plum-like but with multiple large stony seeds, turning purplish when mature. Native and common in Mexico and also Central America.

Nerium oleander – Oleander or Nerium

This cultivated Apocynaceae species is originally from the Mediterranean. It has thick, leathery, lance-shaped leaves in whorls of 2 – 3. Flowers are deeply 5-lobed with a fringed corolla around the mouth of the floral tube as seen here in the center of the flower. Flowers are intensely fragrant (perfume).

Pachypodium rutenbergianum—Madagascar Palm

This is a unique-looking tree 3 – 8 m tall with very thick succulent branches, long spines, and an enlarged stem (caudex). It has long, leathery, oblong to lance-shaped leaves. Flowers are white with a yellow center, petals spreading in a pinwheel shape. Native to Madagascar & cultivated elsewhere.

Trachelospermum jasminoides—Star Jasmine

This is a vigorous, medium-sized evergreen shrub or vine with elliptic to egg-shaped hairless, glossy, green, leathery leaves. Flowers are in few-flowered clusters on long stalks; they are very fragrant and hairy inside the floral tube. This Apocynaceae member is native to Asia but widely cultivated elsewhere.

Asclepiadoideae Subfamily

Asclepias arenaria – Western Sand Milkweed

Erect herbaceous perennial with densely woolly leaves and stems. Leaves are broadly egg-shaped with wavy (undulate) margins seen in the photo. Flowers are found in the leaf axils and are greenish to cream-colored. This species is endemic to the Great Plains region of the USA, very drought-tolerant.

Asclepias asperula—Antelope Horns

This is a clump-forming, 1-2 ft tall perennial with long, narrow leaves that are usually folded lengthwise as shown in the photo. Flowers are usually in roundish terminal inflorescences with greenish flowers with maroon highlights. The fruit is a follicles usually curve like a horn (see pic). It is native to the southwestern USA and northern Mexico.

Asclepias curassavica – Tropical Milkweed

A perennial native of South America but becoming widely introduced elsewhere. Flowers have purple or red corollas and yellow or orange coronas in the center. Leaves are long and narrow with acute tips or tapering to a point. It is not recommended to grow this plant outside of the tropics because it is confusing monarchs into overwintering in temperate climates instead of migrating.

Asclepias engelmanniana – Engelmann’s Milkweed

A tall, slender perennial with 1 – 4 branching stems with long and very narrow linear leaves, usually in groups of 2 – 3. Pale green flowers without horns are crowded in umbels in the upper leaf axils. This species is endemic to the Great Plains of the USA.

Asclepias incarnata—Swamp Milkweed

A herbaceous perennial that is branched on the upper part of the stem and has lance-shaped to linear–oblong leaves. The flower’s corolla is pink to red (rarely white), and the horn curves inward past the hood. This lovely plant is native to swamps and other wet areas of eastern North America.

Asclepias latifolia – Broadleaf Milkweed

This unbranched, 2 – 3 ft tall herbaceous perennial has very large, broad, somewhat egg-shaped or val leaves with prominent veins. Leaves are densely packed, appearing cabbage-like when young. Flowers are pale greenish to yellow, often hidden in axils by the large leaves. Native to the western USA and northern Mexico, mostly in the Great Plains.

Asclepias pumila – Plains Milkweed

This short herbaceous perennial is usually less than 30 cm tall with narrow leaves that are densely packed, appearing whorled but are not upon close inspection. Flowers are light pink or white in terminal inflorescences. This is another endemic of the Great Plains region of the USA.

Asclepias speciosa – Showy Milkweed

Herbaceous perennial up to 1.2 m tall with oppositely arranged, elongated, simple leaves. Large, hairy, pale pink to pinkish-purple flowers appear in dense umbel-like clusters and have very prominent hoods and hooks forming a star shape. Native to western North America.

Asclepias subverticillata – Horsetail Milkweed

This erect, spreading, herbaceous perennial may or may not be branched and grows to 1 m tall with sparse, narrow, linear leaves with margins that roll backward on the edge (revolute) and grow in whorls of 3 – 5 at branch nodes. Star-like whitish or cream flowers grow in the upper leaf axils. It is native to the central and southwestern USA and northern Mexico.

Asclepias syriaca—Common Milkweed

A tall perennial up to 1 m tall with large egg-shaped to somewhat elliptic leaves with pale green on the lower surface. Flowers are in somewhat drooping umbels in leaf axils and are usually pink (rarely white), with horns that bend inwards. The follicles have a very roughly textured surface (shown in the photo). Native to the eastern USA and Canada.

Asclepias tuberosa—Butterfly weed

A bushy herbaceous perennial to 60 cm tall, with a hairy stem that may or may not branch in the top half. Leaves are linear to narrowly egg-shaped and may be rranged opposite or alternate on branches. Flowers are in terminal flat-topped umbels of yellow to red-orange flowers. Native to southeastern Canada and the eastern and southwestern USA.

Asclepias variegata—Red Ring Milkweed

Herbaceous perennial with usually unbranched stems with several pairs of opposite broadly oblong to ovate leaves. Flowers in 1 – 4 rounded, compact umbels with showy white and pinkish-red-tinged flowers with spreading hoods. Native to eastern North America, rare in the north, most common in the southeastern USA.

Asclepias verticillata – Whorled Milkweed

An erect perennial with branching only at the top of the plant (or unbranched) with numerous narrow linear leaves in whorls of 3 – 6. Flowers are in several umbels crowded in the upper axils with white to greenish flowers with somewhat spreading hoods and horns that are larger than the hoods. Native to eastern North America and parts of western North America.

Asclepias viridis – Green Antelope Horns

A herbaceous perennial common on overgrazed pastures and roadsides. Simple leaves, often with wavy (undulate) edges, are arranged alternately on the stems. Flowers are green with purplish hoods, and they lack the horns usually present in the genus. This species is endemic to the south-central and some of the southeastern USA.

Cyanchum laeve – Climbing Milkweed or Sand Vine

This is a climbing vine that is sparsely hairy with opposite heart-shaped leaves with palmate veins. Flowers are in clusters of 5 – 40 flowers in the leaf axils. The fruit is an egg-shaped follicle. Native to central and eastern USA, southeastern Canada

Funastrum clausum—White Twinevine

A tendril-climbing perennial vine with linear to oblong leaves that are hairy and somewhat succulent. Flowers appear in the leaf axils and have soft-hairy white petals. This species is native to the southern USA, Mexico, and the tropical Americas.

Rauvolfioideae Subfamily

Carissa macrocarpa—Natal Plum

Spiny evergreen shrub with leathery, glossy dark green leaves. Flowers are very fragrant and white with long narrow petals. The fruit is a large, reddish, edible drupe (looks like a plum). Native to Africa, cultivated in southern North America and tropical Americas.

Catharanthus roseus – Madagascar Periwinkle

An evergreen subshrub with hairless egg-shaped, somewhat glossy leaves arranged in opposite pairs. Flowers are white with yellow or red centers or dark pink with red centers. Native to Madagascar but frequently cultivated in North America.

Plumeria rubra – Red Frangipani

A medium to large shrub or small tree with a succulent trunk and branches. Drought-deciduous or semi-evergreen with large leaves clustered at branch ends. Flowers are white to pink and very fragrant in terminal umbels. Native to Mexico and tropical America, widely cultivated elsewhere.

Rauvolfia tetraphylla – Devil Pepper

A much-branched shrub or small tree with 4 (3 – 5) whorled egg-shaped, elliptic, or ~oblong leaves per node. Flowers are small and white and appear in clusters in the leaf axils. The fruit is a small red 2-seeded drupe (shown in photo). Native to Mexico and the tropical Americas.

Vinca major – Greater Periwinkle

A scrambling vine with opposite semi-evergreen leaves with a waxy surface and tiny hairs, sometimes with hairy margins. Flowers are pink to violet, fused at the base, with pinwheel-like lobes. Native to the western Mediterranean, widely cultivated as a groundcover, and highly invasive in some areas.

Vinca minor – Periwinkle

A scrambling vine with opposite hairless evergreen leaves that are smaller and narrower than V. major and never have a hairy margin. Flowers are similar to V. major but a little smaller. This Apocynaceae member is native to Eurasia, widely cultivated and highly invasive in some areas.

Scientific Botanical Description of the Apocynaceae

Learn even more about how to identify the Apocynaceae family and the milkweed subfamily with this scientific botanical description.

Habit & Leaf Form of the Apocynaceae Family

The Apocynaceae are mostly annual or perennial shrubs, lianas, or herbs but sometimes are trees, and those trees may have buttress roots (a few in Tabernaemontana and Dyera). All forms are laticiferous, containing a milky latex characteristic of the family. They are self-supporting or climbing-stem twiners, root climbers, or scramblers; when twining, they usually twine anticlockwise. Some plants may be switch plants with succulent, photosynthetic stems. Others have peculiar vegetative forms like the leaves modified as passive pitcher traps in Dischidia rafflesiana. Leaves are usually well-developed but may be very reduced. They are persistent and simple. Leaves are herbaceous, leathery, membranous, or rarely modified into spines. They may be attached alternately, opposite, whorled (three per whorl), or rarely spiral. The leaf lamina is entire and is frequently pinnately veined but may also be one-veined or pinnately to palmately veined. Leaves are usually exstipulate but may be stipulate and sometimes are reduced to colleters found in the stipular position. Domatia occur in 18 genera as pits, pockets, or hair tufts. The leaf lamina is usually dorsiventral, sometimes bifacial, or isobilateral in Nerium oleander. The epidermis sometimes contains crystal idioblasts. Diverse forms of hairs are often found, and they may be eglandular or glandular, often with glandular, shaggy hairs at the lamina bases and on the petiole. Complex hairs are usually not present (except for Pachypodium).

Flowers of the Apocynaceae Family

Plants are hermaphrodites; pollination is entomophilous and often conspicuously specialized with trapping mechanisms using modified stylar heads or specialized anthers. Flowers are terminal or axillary and either solitary or aggregated in panicles, cymose (often umbelliform), or rarely racemose inflorescences. The flowers are often large and showy and are usually bracteate and bracteolate. They are regular, 4-5 merous, tetracyclic, and may be malodorous, fragrant, or odorless. A hypogynous disk is usually present except in the Asclepiadoideae, where it is always absent. The perianth has ten parts in two whorls with a distinct calyx and corolla, which is isomerous. The calyx has five parts in one whorl, is usually connate (at least basally), is regular, and is quincuncial (Apocynoideae), imbricate (Asclepiadoideae), or valvular (Asclepiadoideae). The corolla also has five parts in one whorl and may or may not be appendaged. The corolla is connate with the lobes shorter than or longer than the tube. It is usually contorted or rarely valvate, is funnel-shaped or salverform and regular, and comes in various shades of white, yellow, red, orange, pink, purple, or blue.

Androecium of the Apocynaceae Family

The androecium can vary depending on the Apocynaceae subfamily or tribe. Still, there are five members that are adnate and inserted near the base (always Asclepiadoideae), midway down, or in the throat of the corolla tube. They are usually united with the gynoecium (most Apocynoideae) and may form a gynostegium (always in Asclepiadoideae), or they are free of the gynoecium (most Plumerieae, Periplocoideae). They are free of one another or coherent (always one adelphous in Asclepiadoideae) and are one whorled and consist of exclusively fertile stamens. The stamens are isomerous with the perianth and alternate with the corolla members. The anthers are filantherous to sessile and may or may not be appendiculate. In the Asclepiadoideae, the filaments are almost always appendiculate, with their short filaments ornamented from their bases with nectaries. They are separate, cohering, or connivent (often sagittate in Apocynoideae and distinct from one another but attached adaxially to the stylar head in Asclepiadoideae). The anthers are basifixed or adnate, non-versatile, tetrasporangiate, introrse, and usually bilocular and bisporangiate. In Asclepiadoideae, the anthers are appendaged with horny wings and membranous connective appendages contributing to the coronal complex.  

Gynoecium of the Apocynaceae Family

The gynoecium almost always has two carpels but occasionally may have 2–5 (6–8) (especially in Pleiocarpa). Sometimes the ovary is interpreted as two locular when it is actually the separate ovaries of a syncarpous gynoecium. The pistil has 1–2 cells. The gynoecium is synstylovarious to syncarpous or synstylous (Asclepiadoideae, Plumerieae, Pleiocarpa) and is often superior or otherwise partly inferior. When synstylous, the carpel has 2–50 ovules. Placentation is marginal when synstylous. The gynoecium is usually transverse but always median in Asclepiadoideae. There is usually one style but always two in Asclepiadoideae that are partially joined (free below) by the dilated style head with lateral stigmatic surfaces that alternate with the stamens. There is one stigma that is usually massively expanded and may be contracted in the middle with a ring of hairs or a membrane below. Stigmas are wet or dry types, papillate or not, and either Group II, III, or IV types. Placentation when unilocular with two placentas is parietal and when bilocular (mostly) axile or apical. When bilocular (usually), there are 5–50 (1-4) ovules per locule, and when unilocular or incompletely bilocular, there are 2–100. Ovules are pendulous, anatropous, unitegmic, tenuinucellate (Apocynoideae), or pseudocrassinucellate (Asclepiadoideae).

Fruit of the Apocynaceae Family

The fruits of Apocynaceae are often a fleshy or non-fleshy dehiscent capsule or schizocarp with two mericarps of follicles, berrylets, nutlets, or drupelets. Sometimes it is a fleshy indehiscent berry or a drupe. In Asclepiadoideae, it is always a pair of follicles with thin papery placental flaps or may be a single follicle by abortion of the other carpel. Seeds are oily and may or may not be endospermic or not. They are usually flat and conspicuously hairy (comose in Apocynoideae and Asclepiadoideae) or not and may be winged or wingless.

Taxonomy of the Apocynaceae

The Apocynaceae contains 4555 – 5100 species in 400 genera contained within five subfamilies. It is part of the Gentianales order of the core eudicots. The Asclepiadoideae was recently included in Apocynaceae, greatly increasing the number of species and genera. As with most families, thanks to molecular phylogenetics clarifying our understanding of the plant families, the genera and species have been undergoing revisions. If major updates have been made, I will also update the lists here.

1. Apocynoideae is a diverse subfamily of annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, lianas, and the occasional tree. They exude milky latex, but it is sometimes clear. Leaves are simple and entire but otherwise variable. They usually are exstipulate or have very small stipules. The stamens are almost always usually united with the gynoecium but do not form a true gynostegium; they also lack pollinaria. 
2. Asclepiadoideae is a subfamily that can usually be easily recognized by the presence of a gynostegium with its one adelphous stamens and two styles that are partially joined (free below) by the dilated style head with lateral stigmatic surfaces that alternate with the stamens. The stamens are often appendaged at their bases, forming “hoods” and “horns.” There is no hypogynous disk, and the gynoecium is also always median; both of these characteristics are unlike the rest of the family. The fruit is always a follicle (1-2). Most species exude the same milky latex as most of the family.
3. Periplocoideae is a family of herbs, shrubs, vines, or rarely small trees. Colleters are present in the sinuses of the calyx. The stamens are free of the gynoecium (unlike most of the family, excluding Plumerieae in Rauvolfioideae), but the triangular anthers are adnate to the style head.  
4. Rauvolfioideae is split into eleven diverse tribes. In general, they are mostly trees and shrubs with some herbs or lianas. They also have variable fruit and floral morphology. Sometimes the stamens are free of the gynoecium (unlike most of the family except Periplocoideae). 
5. Secamonoideae is a small subfamily of lianas or vines that climb by twining; rarely, they may be shrubs. Sometimes there are colleters on the adaxial leaf surface. 

Genera:

Apocynoideae: Adenium (6), Aganosma (9), Alafia (25), Allomarkgrafia (10), Allowoodsonia (1), Amalocalyx (1), Amphineurion (1), Anodendron (17), Apocynum (5), Artia (5), Asketanthera (4), Baharuia (1), Bahiella (2), Baissea (25), Beaumontia (9), Carruthersia (4), Cascabela (6 Not in APG), Chonemorpha (10), Cleghornia (2), Cycladenia (1), Dewevrella (1), Echites (14), Ecua (1), Elytropus (1), Epigynum (5), Eucorymbia (1), Farquharia (1), Forsteronia (45), Funtumia (2), Galactophora (6), Holarrhena (6), Hylaea (2), Ichnocarpus (3), Isonema (3), Ixodonerium (1), Kibatalia (15), Laubertia (4), Macropharynx (15), Malouetia (32), Mandevilla (183), Mascarenhasia (8), Mesechites (8), Micrechites (15), Motandra (3), Neobracea (8), Nerium (1), Odontadenia (23), Oncinotis (8), Pachypodium (23), Pacouria (3), Papuechites (1), Parepigynum (1), Parsonsia (85), Pentalinon (2), Pinochia (4), Pleioceras (5), Pottsia (3), Prestonia (63), Rhabdadenia (3), Rhodocalyx (2), Salpinctes (1), Sindechites (1), Spirolobium (1), Stephanostema (1), Stipecoma (1), Streptoechites (1), Strophanthus (39), Temnadenia (2), Thenardia (3), Thoreauea (3), Thyrsanthella (1), Tintinnabularia (3), Trachelospermum (10), Urceola (21), Vallaris (2), Wrightia (34). 

Asclepiadoideae: Adelostemma (?), Aidomene (?), Anemotrochus (3), Anisopus (4), Anisotoma (3), Apteranthes (7), Araujia (13), Asclepias (210),Aspidoglossum (37), Aspidonepsis (5), Astephanus (2), Asterostemma (1), Australluma (2), Barjonia (7), Blepharodon (4-6), Calciphila (2), Calotropis (3), Campestigma (1), Caralluma (31 Not in APG), Ceropegia (473), Chlorocyathus (2), Cibirhiza (3), Cionura (1), Conomitra (1), Cordylogyne (2), Cosmostigma (3), Cristobalia (4 Not in APG), Cynanchum (259), Diplolepis (14), Dischidanthus (2), Dischidia (128), Ditassa (114), Dittoceras (?), Dolichopetalum (1?), Echidnopsis (36? = Ceropegia), Emicocarpus (1), Emplectanthus (3), Eustegia (5), Fanninia (1), Fischeria (17), Fockea (6), Funastrum (22), Glossonema (?), Glossostelma (12), Gomphocarpus (20), Gongronema (7), Gongronemopsis (9), Gonolobus (~140), Graphistemma (? = Cyanchum), Gunnessia (1?), Gymnema (53), Gymnemopsis (5?), Gyrostelma (1), Harmandiella (1), Hemipogon (9), Heterostemma (45), Heynella (1), Hoya (569), Hypolobus (1), Ibatia (36), Jobinia (25), Kanahia (2), Lachnostoma (16), Lagarinthus (?), Leptadenia (9), Lygisma (5), Macroscepis (21), Margaretta (1), Marsdenia (69-84), Matelea (181), Metastelma (94), Microloma (11), Minaria (22), Miraglossum (7), Monsanima (2), Nautonia (1), Neoschumannia (3), Nephradenia (5), Oncinema (1), Oreosparte (3), Orthosia (55), Oxypetalum (139), Oxystelma (2), Pachycarpus (39), Papuahoya (3), Parapodium (3), Pentacyphus (3), Pentasacme (6), Pentatropis (4), Peplonia (9), Pergularia (2), Petalostelma (12), Pherotrichis (4), Philibertia (45), Piaranthus (9), Pseudolachnostoma (12), Pycnorhachis (1), Rhyssolobium (1), Rhytidostemma (8), Riocreuxia (10), Rojasia  (1), Ruehssia (146), Sarcolobus (22), Schizoglossum (26), Schizostephanus  (2), Schubertia (6?), Scyphostelma (39), Sicyocarpus (1), Sisyranthus (15), Solenostemma (1), Stathmostelma (14), Stelmagonum (1), Stenostelma (6), Stephanotis (18), Stigmatorhynchus (2), Suberogerens (1),Talayotea (2), Tassadia (31), Telosma (9), Topea (2 Not in APG), Treutlera (1), Tweedia (6), Tylodontia (4), Vincetoxicum (264), Woodia (3), Xysmalobium (40).

Periplocoideae: Atherandra (1), Baroniella (10), Baseonema (1), Batesanthus (3), Buckollia (2), Camptocarpus (9), Cryptolepis (34), Cryptostegia (2), Decalepis (5), Ectadium (2), Epistemma (4), Finlaysonia (6), Gymnanthera (2), Hemidesmus (1), Ischnolepis (1), Maclaudia (1), Mondia (2), Myriopteron (1), Pentopetia (23), Periploca (17), Petopentia (2), Phyllanthera (10), Raphionacme (36), Sacleuxia (2), Sarcorrhiza (1), Schlechterella (2); Stomatostemma (1), Streptocaulon (5); Tacazzea (5), Telectadium (3), Zygostelma (1). 

Rauvolfioideae: Acokanthera (5), Allamanda (16), Alstonia (44), Alyxia (117), Ambelania (3), Amsonia (17), Ancylobothrys (8), Anechites (1), Aspidosperma (80), Bousigonia (3), Callichilia (6), Calocrater (1), Cameraria (7), Carissa (11-15), Carvalhoa (2), Catharanthus (9), Cerbera (6), Cerberiopsis (3), Chamaeclitandra (1), Chilocarpus (14), Clitandra (1), Condylocarpon (7), Couma (5), Craspidospermum (1), Crioceras (1), Cyclocotyla (1), Cylindropsis (1), Dictyophleba (6), Diplorhynchus (1), Dyera (2), Geissospermum (5), Gonioma (2), Hancornia (1), Haplophyton (2), Himatanthus (9), Hunteria (9), Kamettia (2), Kopsia (25), Lacmellea (24), Landolphia (63), Laxoplumeria (5), Lepinia (4), Lepiniopsis (2), Leuconotis (4), Macoubea (3), Melodinus (25), Microplumeria (1), Molongum (3), Mortoniella (1), Mucoa (2), Neocouma (2), Ochrosia (44), Orthopichonia (6), Parahancornia (7), Petchia (8), Picralima (1), Plectaneia (3), Pleiocarpa (7), Plumeria (18), Pteralyxia (2), Pycnobotrya (1), Rauvolfia (78), Rhigospira (1), Saba (3), Schizozygia (1), Skytanthus (3), Spongiosperma (6), Stephanostegia (2), Strempeliopsis (2), Tabernaemontana (126), Tabernanthe (2), Thevetia (3), Vahadenia (2), Vallesia (10), Vinca (7), Voacanga (22), Willughbeia (16),

Secamonoideae: Calyptranthera (13), Genianthus (17? or syn. of Secamone), Goniostemma (2), Pervillaea (5), Secamone (150), Secamonopsis (2), Toxocarpus (29), Trichosandra (1).

Distribution of the Apocynaceae

The Apocynaceae are mostly subtropical to tropical with a few temperate representatives. They are cosmopolitan in distribution, and they are widely found throughout the entire Americas, including some herbaceous Apocynaceae species that are found as far north as Arctic Canada. 

Distribution of Apocynaceae in the Americas

Canadian Apocynaceae Genera Include:

Apocynoideae: Apocynum 2 spp. native in almost all of Canada, including the Arctic but excluding NU and Labrador, 1 NAM hybrid sp. also native in this range. Asclepiadoideae: Asclepias 15 spp. native in all S provinces but intro in NL (absent in Labrador); Cynanchum 1 sp. intro in ON; Vincetoxicum 3 spp. intro to BC, ON, QC, and NB. Rauvolfioideae: Vinca 2 spp. intro to BC, ON, QC, NS, and NB.

USA Apocynaceae Genera Include:

Apocynoideae in the USA: Apocynum 2 spp. native to all of the USA including AK, plus 1 NAM hybrid sp. native in this range; Beaumontia 1 sp. intro HI?; Cycladenia monospecific SW USA endemic of CA, OR, AZ, and UT; Echites 1 sp. native to FL; Mandevilla 4 spp. native to AZ, NM, and TX; Nerium monospecific sp. intro to most of S border states exc NM, also in UT and CA; Pentalinon 1 Mexico, CAM & Caribbean endemic sp. native to S FL; Rhabdadenia 1 S NAM & neoendemic sp. native to FL; Thyrsanthella monospecific SE USA endemic of OK, TX, MO, AR, LA, IL, IN, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, and DE; Trachelospermum 2 spp. intro TX, OK, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, MD, DE, TN, KY, IL, and IN. 

Asclepiadoideae in the USA: Araujia 2 former neoendemic spp. intro to CA, GA, and FL; Asclepias 75 spp. native to all the continental states and HI, with some intro in some states; Calotropis 2 spp. intro to CA, FL, and HI; Cynanchum 17 spp. native and intro to most of the USA exc WA, OR, WY, MT, CO, ND, and SD; Funastrum 5-7 spp. native to CA, NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR, and FL; Gomphocarpus 1 sp. intro to CA?; Gonolobus 3 spp. native to AZ, KS, OK, TX, MO, AR, LA, IL, IN, KY, TN, MS, AL, GA, FL, NC, SC, VA, and MD; Hoya 1sp. intro to HI; Matelea 24 spp. (may be less now that genus has been reduced) sp. native to the most southern states; Metastelma ? sp. native to AZ, NM, TX, and FL (USDA-NRCS considers it a syn. of Cyanchum); Orthosia 1? sp. native to MS, FL, GA, and SC; Pherotrichis 1 sp. native to AZ; Suberogerens monospecific endemic of W+SE Mexico, and Ver; Vincetoxicum 3 spp. intro to CA, NE, KS, MN, MO, MI, WI, IL, IN, KY, OH, PA, NJ, MD, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, and ME.

Periplocoideaein the USA: Cryptostegia 2 spp. intro to TX and FL; Periploca 1 sp. intro to KS, OK, TX, TN, VA, PA, NJ, NY, CT, and RI.

Rauvolfioideae in the USA: Allamanda 1 former neoendemic sp. intro to FL; Alstonia 1 sp. intro to FL and HI; Alyxia 1 Pacific sp. native to HI; Amsonia 16 spp., including 14 native to all of S USA from CA E to NJ but excluding WV, which includes 7 endemic to the USA and 3 narrow endemics of AZ (2) and NM (1), and includes 2 spp. intro to NY, CT, and MA; Carissa 1 sp. intro to AZ, TX, and FL; Catharanthus 1 sp. intro to CA, TX, LA, MS, FL, GA, SC, NC, OH, and HI; Haplophyton 1 S NAM & N CAM endemic spp. native to AZ, NM, and TX; Ochrosia 4 spp. native to HI and intro to FL; Plumeria 1 sp. native FL; Pteralyxia 2 spp. endemic genera of HI; Rauvolfia 3 spp. inc. native in FL, and intro and native in HI; Tabernaemontana 2 spp. native to FL and intro HI; Thevetia 1 Neo sp. intro to TX, FL, and HI; Vallesia 2 Americas endemic spp., inc. 1 native and 1 intro to CA and FL; Vinca 3 spp. intro to most of USA except NV, OK, CO, WY, ND, and SD.

Mexico Apocynaceae Genera Include:

Apocynoideae in Mexico: Apocynum 1 sp. native to N Mexico, plus 1 NAM hybrid sp. native in this range; Cascabela 5 spp. native to all of Mexico, including 3 endemics; Echites 7 NAM, CAM & Caribbean spp. native to most of Mexico, exc. BC, BCS, Son, and Sin, and inc. 1 endemic to SW+C Mexico; Forsteronia 1-3? Neoendemic sp. native to SW+SE Mexico, Ver, Chp; Laubertia 1 Mexico endemic sp. in most of Mexico exc. Ver; Mandevilla ~22 spp. native (~1/2 endemic) to all of Mexico; Mesechites 1 Mexico & Neoendemic sp. native to Mexico except for BC, BCS, Son, Sin, Mex, Cd Mex, Pue, Tlx, and Mor; Nerium monospecific sp. intro to most of Mexico exc. BC, BCS, Son, Sin, and Ver; Odontadenia 1 neoendemic sp. native SW+SE Mexico, Chp; Pentalinon 1 Mexico, CAM & Caribbean endemic s.p native SW+C+SE Mexico; Pinochia 2 Mexico & N Neo endemic spp. native to SW+SE Mexico, Chp, and Ver; Prestonia ~5 soo native to most of Mexico exc. BC, BCS, Son, and Sin; Rhabdadenia 1 S NAM & neoendemic sp. native to Ver, Cam, Tab, Yuc, QR, and Chp; Thenardia 3 Mexico & Honduras endemic spp. native SW+C+SE Mexico, inc 2 endemics; Thoreauea 3 spp. endemic genus of SW Mexico + Ver; Tintinnabularia 2 Mesoamerica endemic spp. native Oax, Chp, and Ver, inc 1 narrow endemic of Ver.  

Asclepiadoideae in Mexico: Asclepias 70+ spp. native to all of Mexico; Calotropis 1 sp. intro to SW+C+SE Mexico; Cynanchum several spp. native to all of Mexico; Fischeria 1 Neoendemic sp. native to SW+C+SE Mexico; Funastrum 13 spp. native throughout all of Mexico, including 3 endemics; Gomphocarpus 1 sp. intro to SW Mexico; Gonolobus ~50 spp., about half of which are endemic and native to all of Mexico; Jobinia 1 sp. native Ver; Macroscepis 5 Mexico & neoendemic spp. native to all of Mexico, including 2 narrow endemics; Matelea ~70 spp, ~60% endemic to all of Mexico; Metastelma ~30 spp. native to all of Mexico, including Mexican Pacific Is., including many endemics; Orthosia 9 spp. inc. 6 endemics native to all of Mexico; Oxypetalum 1-2 spp. native to NE+SW+SE Mexico, and Ver; Pherotrichis 4 Mexico & N CAM endemic spp. native to most of Mexico except Ver, including 2 Mexican endemics of SW Mexico; Ruehssia ~40 Mexico & neoendemic spp. native to all of Mexico, with ~68% endemism; Stelmagonum monospecific endemic of SW Mexico; Talayotea 2 spp. endemic genera of most of Mexico except Ver;Tassadia 1 neoendemic sp. native to SW+SE Mexico, and Ver. 

Periplocoideae in Mexico: Cryptostegia 2 spp. intro to W+SE Mexico.

Rauvolfioideae in Mexico: Allamanda 1 former neoendemic sp. intro to SW+C Mexico; Alstonia 1 sp. native to SW+C+SE Mexico; Amsonia 4 spp. native to N Mexico; Aspidosperma 5-7+ neoendemic spp. native to SW+SE Mexico, Ver, including 2? endemics; Cameraria 1 former Mexico + N Neoendemic sp. native to SE Mexico; Carissa 1 sp. intro to SW+C Mexico; Catharanthus 1 sp. intro to SW+SE Mexico; Haplophyton 2 S NAM & N CAM endemic spp. native to most of Mexico except Ver; Plumeria 2 spp. native to all of Mexico; Rauvolfia 3-4 spp. native to all of Mexico; Tabernaemontana ~16 spp. native to all of Mexico, including 6 endemics; Thevetia 1 sp. native to most of Mexico except BC, BCS, Son, and Sin; Vallesia 8 Americas endemic spp. native to all of Mexico, inc. 5 narrow endemics; Vinca 1 sp. intro to SW+C+SE Mexico.

Neotropical Apocynaceae Genera Include:

Apocynoideaein the Neotropics:Allomarkgrafia 10 neoendemic spp. of Honduras S to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru; Anodendron 1 sp. intro to Trinidad-Tobago; Asketanthera 4 Greater Antilles endemic spp. of Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti; Bahiella 2 narrow endemic spp. of NE Brazil; Beaumontia 1 sp. intro to Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras; Cascabela 3 spp. former native CAM S through tropical SAM to Peru, Bolivia, NE Argentina, SE Brazil (exc. NE Brazil), and intro to Bermuda, Bahamas, Antilles (exc. Cayman Is., Netherlands Antilles); Echites 13 NAM, CAM & Caribbean endemic spp. of CAM, Bahamas, Turks-Caicos, Greater Antilles, and Leeward Is., inc. 4 narrow endemics of Cuba (2), Costa Rica (1), Panama (1); Forsteronia 45 Neoendemic spp. native to Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, CAM, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile); Funtumia 1 sp. intro to Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, and El Salvador; Galactophora 6 SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, N+C Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, and Bolivia; Hylaea 2 N SAM endemic spp. of S Venezuela and N Brazil; Laubertia 3 Neoendemic spp. native to Belize (endemic sp.), Colombia, Venezuela, N Brazil (endemic sp.), Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Macropharynx 15 neoendemic spp. of Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama,  Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and N Argentina; Malouetia ~20 spp. native CAM (exc. El Salvador), Windward Is, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil (exc. C Brazil), Peru, and Bolivia, and intro to Cuba; Mandevilla ~165 mostly Neoendemic spp. native to CAM, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile); Mesechites 8 neoendemic (1 also in Mexico) spp. native to CAM, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (excluding Uruguay and N Chile), inc. 5 endemics of Cuba (2), Hispaniola, Colombia, and Peru; Neobracea 8 narrow endemics of Cuba (7) and Cuba + the Bahamas (1); Nerium monospecific sp. intro to CAM and S Brazil; Odontadenia 23 neoendemic spp. native to CAM (exc. El Salvador), Hispaniola, Colombia, N+E+C Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Trinidad-Tobago, and intro to Windward Is.; Pentalinon 2 Mexico, CAM & Caribbean endemic spp. native to the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Greater Antilles, SW Caribbean, Leeward & Windward Is., Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua; Pinochia 4 Mexico & N neoendemic spp. native to Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is.), including 2 endemic to Greater Antilles; Prestonia 63 Mexico & neoendemic spp. native to CAM, tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile), Leeward & Windward Is, and Trinidad-Tobago; Rhabdadenia 3 S NAM & neoendemic spp. native to CAM, Bahamas, Greater Antilles, Leeward & Windward Is., Trinidad-Tobago, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile); Rhodocalyx 2 SAM endemic spp. of Peru, Bolivia, C+E+S Brazil, Paraguay, and N Argentina; Salpinctes monospecific endemic of S Colombia; Stipecoma monospecific SAM endemic of Bolivia and C+E Brazil; Strophanthus 1 sp. intro to Trinidad-Tobago; Temnadenia 2 spp. endemic genera of Brazil (exc. N); Thenardia 1 S Mexico + Honduras endemic sp. native Honduras; Tintinnabularia 2 Mesoamérica endemic spp. native to Guatemala, and Honduras (1 endemic).

Asclepiadoideaein the Neotropics: Anechites monospecific N neoendemic of Hoduras S to Colombia, Venezuala, Ecuador, and Peru, plus the Greater Antilles; Anemotrochus 3 Caribbean endemic spp. native to Bahamas, Turks-Caicos, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica; Araujia 13 former S SAM endemic spp. native Bolivia, C+SE+S Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina, and intro in C Chile and elsewhere; Asclepias 12 spp. native to CAM, Bahamas, Turks-Caicos, Antilles (exc. Aruba), Trinidad-Tobago, Galapagos, and most of SAM excclduing Chile and intro in N Chile; Barjonia 7 SAM endemic spp. of Brazil, Suriname, and Bolivia; Blepharodon 4 SAM endemic spp. native Bolivia, C+S+SE Brazil, NE Argentina, and Paraguay; Calotropis 2 spp. intro to Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Antilles, Trinidad-Tobago, Colombia, Venezuela, N+C+E Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia; Cristobalia 2 SAM spp. of Bolivia, Uruguay, N Argentina, and S Brazil; Cynanchum ~15 spp. native in CAM, Cuba, Jamaica, tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile); Diplolepis 9 S SAM endemic spp. native to N+C CHile, NW Argentina, including 4 narrow endemics of Chile, rest in Patagonia; Ditassa 114 SAM endemic spp. of Colombia S to N Argentina, except N Chile and Paraguay; Fischeria 17 Neoendemic spp. native from S Mexico S through CAM (exc. El Salvador), Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad-Tobago, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Funastrum 12+ former Americas endemic spp. native to the Antilles (exc. Aruba, Leewards, Netherlands Antilles), Trinidad-Tobago, CAM, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile), including 5 narrow endemics of Guatemala, Bolivia, Colombia, SE Brazil, and Galapagos, with 1 sp. now introduced to India; Gomphocarpus 1 sp. intro to CAM (exc. Belize), Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Leeward Is, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Brazil, Uruguay, NE Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Gonolobus ~100 spp. native to Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is.), Leeward & Windward Is., CAM, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile, Suriname, French Guiana); Gyrostelma monospecific endemic of C+SE Brazil; Hemipogon 8 SAM endemic spp. of Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay; Hoya 1 sp. intro to Cuba, Trinidad-Tobago, Puerto Rico, and Leeward Is.; Hypolobus monospecific endemic of NE Brazil; Ibatia 36 Neoendemic spp. of Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, and N Argentina; Jobinia 25 Neoendemic spp. native to Guatemala, Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, C+S+E Brazil, N Argentina, and Uruguay; Lachnostoma 16 N SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela; Macroscepis 19 Mexico & neoendemic spp. native to CAM (exc. Belize), Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, N Argentina, and Brazil; Matelea ~140 spp. native to CAM, Bahamas, Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is.), Leeward & Windward Is., Trinidad-Tobago, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile); Metastelma ~85-90 spp. native to the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Antilles, CAM, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, N+E+S Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and N Argentina; Minaria 22 SAM endemic spp. of Brazil, Bolivia, and NE Argentina; Monsanima 2 narrow endemic spp. of E Brazil; Nautonia monospecific E SAM endemic of C+SE+S Brazil, Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Nephradenia 5 N SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, N+E+C Brazil, and Bolivia; Orthosia ~48 neoendemic spp. native to CAM (exc. Belize), Colombia, Venezuela, E+S Brazil, Uruguay, N Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Bahamas, and the Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is); Oxypetalum 139 mostly neoendemic spp. of Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is), Leeward Is, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and N Argentina; Pentacyphus 3 N SAM endemic spp. of high Andean Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, including 1 narrow endemic of Caldas, Colombia; Peplonia 9 SAM endemic spp. of Peru, Bolivia, E+C+S Brazil, and Paraguay; Petalostelma 7 SAM endemic spp. of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and N Argentina; Pherotrichis 1 sp. native to Guatemala; Philibertia 41 W+S SAM endemic spp. of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, N+C Chile, and Argentina; Pseudolachnostoma 12 neoendemic spp. of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, N Brazil, and Trinidad-Tobago; Rhytidostemma 8 neoendemic spp. of Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, C+N Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru; Rojasia monospecific SAM endemic of Bolivia, Paraguay, S Brazil, and NE Argentina; Ruehssia ~120+ spp. Mexico & neoendemic spp. native to CAM, much of the Antilles, and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. N Chile); Schubertia 6? SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and N Argentina; Scyphostelma 39 neoendemic spp. of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Stephanotis 1 sp. intro to Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Leeward Is, and Trinidad-Tobago; Tassadia 31 neoendemic spp. native to S Mexico, Cuba, Trinidad-Tobago, Belize, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and S Brazil; Topea 2 narrow endemic spp. of WC Brazil, Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Tweedia 6 S SAM endemic spp. of Bolivia, N+C Chile, Argentina, and Paraguay, spp. are mostly narrow endemics; Tylodontia 4 narrow endemic spp. of Cuba.  

Periplocoideae in the Neotropics: Cryptostegia 2 spp. intro to CAM (exc. Guatemala, Belize), the Bahamas, Antilles, Trinidad-Tobago, Colombia, Venezuela, and N+NE+C Brazil.

Rauvolfioideae in the Neotropics: Allamanda 15 spp. of former neoendemic genera native to tropical SAM S to Bolivia, NE Argentina, and S Brazil, excluding Ecuador and Paraguay and intro to Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Trinidad-Tobago, and Galapagos; Alstonia 1 sp. native to CAM (exc. Belize) and intro in Trinidad-Tobago; Ambelania 3 SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, N+NE Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname; Anechites monospecific N neoendemic of Honduras S to Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru, and the Greater Antilles (exc. Cayman Is.); Aspidosperma ~78 neoendemic spp. native from S Mexico S through CAM and tropical SAM S to N Argentina (except N Chile), Hispaniola, Trinidad-Tobago, and Venezuelan Antilles; Cameraria 7 spp. native to Belize, Guatemala, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and the Greater Antilles, including 6 single-island endemics of Cuba (4), Hispaniola, and Dominican Republic; Carissa 1 sp. intro to Honduras, Nicaragua, Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Leeward & Windward Is, and Trinidad-Tobago; Catharanthus 1 sp. intro to CAM, Bahamas, Turks-Caicos, Antilles (exc. Cayman Is., Venezuelan Antilles), SW Caribbean, the Galapagos, and French Guiana; Cerbera 1 sp. intro to Trinidad-Tobago; Chamaeclitandra monospecific African sp. intro to Trinidad-Tobago; Condylocarpon 7 Neoendemic spp. of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, NE Argentina, and Trinidad-Tobago; Couma 5 neoendemic spp. of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, N+NE Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; Geissospermum 5 SAM endemic spp. of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, N+E Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia; Hancornia monospecific SAM endemic of Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru; Haplophyton 2 S NAM & N CAM endemic spp. native to Guatemala and intro in Cuba; Himatanthus 9 neoendemic spp. of Panama and tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, C+SE Brazil; Kopsia 1 sp. intro to Trinidad-Tobago; Lacmellea 24 neoendemic spp. native to CAM (exc. El Salvador), and tropical SAM S. to Peru, Bolivia, and C+E Brazil; Landolphia 1 sp. intro to Trinidad-Tobago; Laxoplumeria 5 Neoendemic spp. of Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, N+C+SE Brazil, and French Guiana; Macoubea 3 neoendemic spp. of Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and N+NE Brazil; Microplumeria monospecific N SAM endemic of Colombia, Venezuela, and N Brazil; Molongum 3 N SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Venezuela, and N Brazil; Mortoniella monospecific CAM endemic of Belize, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica; Mucoa 2 N SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Venezuela, N Brazil, and Peru; Neocouma 2 N SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and N Brazil; Pacouria 3 N SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, N+SE Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru; Parahancornia 7 NW SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, N Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia; Plumeria 18 former Americas endemic spp. native to CAM, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Bahamas, Turks-Caicos, Antilles (exc. Aruba, Netherlands Antilles), and SW Caribbean, and now intro to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Netherlands Antilles, and Trinidad-Tobago; Rauvolfia ~25 spp. native to CAM, Antilles (exc. Netherlands Antilles), tropical SAM S to N Argentina (exc. Uruguay, N Chile); Rhigospira monospecific N SAM endemic sp. of Colombia, Venezuela, N Brazil, and Peru; Skytanthus 3 narrow SAM endemic spp. of E Brazil (2), N+C Chile (1); Spongiosperma 6 N SAM endemic spp. of Colombia, Venezuela, and N+NE Brazil; Strempeliopsis 2 single island endemic spp. of Cuba (1) and W Jamaica (1); Tabernaemontana ~45 spp. native to the Antilles (exc Aruba, Netherlands Antilles), SW Caribbean, tropical SAM S to Peru, Bolivia, and NE Argentina; Thevetia 3 Mexico & neoendemic spp. native to CAM, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, N & C Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and NE Argentina; Vallesia 6 Americas endemic spp. native to Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, N Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and N Argentina, including 2 narrow endemics of Galapagos and Venezuela; Vinca 2 spp. intro to Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, C Chile, and Uruguay.    

Patagonia Apocynaceae Genera Include:

Apocynoideae: Elytropus monospecific endemic C+S Chile, and S Argentina. Asclepiadoideae: Araujia 1? sp native to S Argentina; Asclepias 1 sp. native to S Argentina; Diplolepis 10 S SAM endemic spp. native to SC+S Chile and S Argentina, including 5 narrow endemics; Philibertia 1 SAM endemic sp. native to C Chile and S Argentina; Tweedia 2 S SAM endemic spp. native to C Chile and S Argentina. 

Additional Information and References

• Visit Lyrae’s Dictionary of Botanical Terms to learn the terminology of botanists. Note that if you hover over most of the words in the articles, you can also get definitions from them there.
• Willis, Lyrae (Unpublished). Plant Families of North America. This is where all of the family descriptions come from. Below should be most of my references for this, as well as my own personal observations.
• Canadensys: Acadia University, Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga, University of British Columbia. http://data.canadensys.net/explorer (accessed 2020 – current)
• Delta: Watson, L., and Dallwitz, M.J. (1992+). The Families of Flowering Plants: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 2nd May 2020. delta-intkey.com. Accessed spring through fall of 2020.
• GBIF.org (2020), GBIF Home Page. Available from: https://www.gbif.org
• Flora of North America (1993+). https://floranorthamerica.org/Main_Page.
• Naturalista: CONABIO http://www.naturalista.mx (Accessed 2020–current).
• Neotropikey: Milliken, W., Klitgård, B., & Baracat, A. eds. (2009+). Neotropikey: Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics. www.kew.org/neotropikey.com (accessed 2020 – current).
• Patagonia Wildflowers: Wildflower Identification Site. https://patagoniawildflowers.org/ Accessed throughout the fall of 2020.
• POWO (2019). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/
• Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 14, July 2017 [more or less continuously updated since]. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
• USDA, NRCS. 2020. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 2 June 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC, USA; accessed throughout the fall of 2020.
• WFO (2022): World Flora Online. Published on the Internet: http://www.worldfloraonline.org. Accessed Spring 2022 – current.

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I am currently seeking funding to expand my website and SEO capabilities as I keep adding new families, and I am also looking to invest in a new macro lens, as I will soon be adding floral dissections to the families as they become available to me. You can donate to help support native plant education using the GoFundMe link, also at the bottom of the page.

Copyright Information

The information and the photos on this site are free to use for educational purposes, with proper attribution. For other uses, please contact me first.

You can cite this site as follows: Willis, Lyrae (2020+). Lyrae’s Nature Blog – Plant Families of North America. https://lyraenatureblog.com/. Accessed [Enter Date].