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Synonyms: Plumeriaceae Horan.; Vincaceae Vest; Willughbeiaceae J. Agardh
Common name: Dogbane Family.
Number of genera 164. Number of species 2100.
Angiosperm. Magnoliopsida.
Disseminule a dehisced fruit, or an intact or entire fruit, or a seed.
Fruits
Pistil(s) simple, or compound; 1, or 2–5; 1–2-pistillate; with carpels united, or carpels nearly separate to base. Fruit pericarpium; schizocarp, or simple; follicle; baccarium (Hunteria), or druparium (Tabernaemontana), or follicarium (Rhazya), or lomentarium (Alyxia Spjut recognized 2 families: Apocynaceae & Papaveraceae); without persistent central column; 1-seeded, or more than 1 but less than 10-seeded, or 10 to less than 25-seeded, or 25 to less than 50-seeded (to unknown upper limit; data supplied by L.W. Jessup [BRI; 2006]); from 5.1–10 cm long to more than 10 cm long; 8–37 cm long; 2(–8)-carpellate; with carpels united; with carpels remaining united at maturity; without sterile carpels; not sulcate; in transection terete; apex not beaked; dehiscent, or indehiscent. Dehiscent unit seed(s). Dehiscent regularly; at apex; and shedding seeds; without replum. Epicarp brown (all shades), or orange; dull; durable; without armature; smooth; without wing(s); without apical respiratory hole. Mesocarp present, or absent; fleshy; composed of 1 unified layer; without lactiform cavity system. Endocarp present, or absent; not separating from exocarp; thin, or pulpy; not splitting into 1-seeded pyrenes; without operculum; without secretory cavities; without longitudinal ridges. Funiculus short; short without seed bearing hooks (retinacula); not persisting in fruit after seed shed.
Seeds
Aril absent, or present (Tabernaemontaneae); a true aril; pale orange, or red, or pink; well developed; fleshy; of funicular origin; basal, or encompassing; does not aid in seed explusion from fruit; fleshy, or waxy, or mucilaginous; lobed, or unlobed. Seed larger than minute; 1 to less than 5 mm long to 10 to less than 25 mm long to 25 to less than 50 mm long; 1.2–23 mm long; elliptic, or oblong; in transection compressed, or terete, or flattened; not bowl shaped; not nutlike; without winglike beak; without caudate appendage(s); at maturity with food reserves, or without apparent food reserves; with endosperm; without canavanine. Sarcotesta absent. Testa present; without fleshy or leathery layer over hard layer; tight; dull; surface smooth, or unsmooth; surface with discreet raised features, or depressed features, or merged raised features; surface deeply & longitundinally grooved; surface verrucose, or warted; surface reticulate, or ridged, or tessellate; without crease or line separating cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle; without notch along margin where cotyledons from hypocotyl-radicle tip approach each other; without glands; without bristles; pubescent (Apocynoideae), or glabrous (usually Plumerioideae); with tuft of hairs at one end (coma), or hairs over surface (both, for some spp.); without glandular pubescence; without wings, or with wing(s); without collar; without operculum; colored, or transparent; monochrome; brown (all shades), or black; thin; not becoming mucilaginous when wetted, or becoming mucilaginous when wetted; surrounding food reserve. Endosperm development nuclear; copious, or scant; hard, or fleshy-firm (fleshy in Plocospermum); smooth, or ruminate (Chilocarpus); without starch; with oils; without fatty acid containing cyclopropene; without apical lobes; without chlorophyll; without isodiametric faceted surface; without odor.
Embryo differentiated from food reserve; well developed; 1 per seed; partially filling testa (with food reserve); 0.4 times the length of food reserve; at one end of seed not extending into a depression or cup; axile and centric; foliate, or linear; with spatulate cotyledons; straight, or bent (really slightly curved); without coleorhiza; without simmondsin; without stomata; not green; with 2 or more cotyledons. Cotyledons 2; 0.4–0.6 times length of embryo; as wide as hypocotyl-radicle, or somewhat to significantly wider than hypocotyl-radicle; 1–3.3 times wider than hypocotyl-radicle; convoluted, or much folded, or once-folded, or plicate, or flat; smooth; equal in size; not punctate dotted. Hypocotyl-radicle well developed; straight, or curved (and recurved); not thickened.
Distribution
Pantropical, pansubtropical, and pantemperate. New World, Old World. North America, Middle America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia Major, Asia Minor, southeastern Asia, Australia, Oceania.
Notes
Goldberg recognized Plocospermataceae with elongate bivalved capsule. Subfamilies Apocynoideae has hairy seeds & Plumerioideae has usually hairless seeds.
Weed information
1 or more USA state noxious weeds.
USA states and territories with listed noxious weeds: California (CA), Connecticut (CT), Hawaii (HI), Kansas (KS), Massachusetts (MA), New Hampshire (NH), Puerto Rico (PR), Vermont (VT).
USA state and territory noxious weeds: -- Araujia sericifera Brot.: USA state noxious weed: CA●. -- Asclepias spp.: USA state noxious weed: HI°. -- Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T. Aiton: USA state noxious weed: PR●. -- Cynanchum laeve (Michx.) Pers.: USA state noxious weed: KS°. -- Cynanchum louiseae Kartesz & Gandhi (= Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench): USA state noxious weed: CT●, MA●. -- Cynanchum nigrum (L.) Pers. (= Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench): USA state noxious weed: NH●. -- Cynanchum rossicum Kleopow (= Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar.): USA state noxious weed: CT●, MA●, NH●. -- Gonolobus laevis Michx. (=Cynanchum laeve (Michx.) Pers.): USA state noxious weed: KS°. -- Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Medik.: USA state noxious weed: VT●. -- Vincetoxicum nigrum (L.) Moench: USA state noxious weed: VT●. -- Symbols: ªaquatic weed; ●terrestrial weed; °weed in seed. -- Last updated September 2008.
Listed seeds
ASOA listed seeds, ISTA listed seeds.
ASOA listed seeds: -- Ampelamus albidus (Nutt.) Britton = Cynanchum laeve (Michx.) Pers. -- Apocynum androsaemifolium L. -- Apocynum cannabinum L. -- Apocynum L. spp. -- Araujia sericifera Brot. -- Asclepias curassavica L. -- Asclepias galioides auct. Amer. = Asclepias subverticillata (A. Gray) Vail -- Asclepias labriformis M. E. Jones -- Asclepias mexicana Cav. -- Asclepias pumila (A. Gray) Vail -- Asclepias speciosa Torr. -- Asclepias L. spp. -- Asclepias subverticillata (A. Gray) Vail -- Asclepias syriaca L. -- Asclepias tuberosa L. -- Asclepias verticillata L. -- Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don -- Cynanchum laeve (Michx.) Pers. -- Last updated September 2008.
ISTA listed seeds: -- Allamanda cathartica L. -- Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. -- Aspidosperma polyneuron Mull. Arg. -- Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don -- Funtumia elastica (P. Preuss) Stapf -- Nerium oleander L.w -- Pachypodium lamerei Drake -- Plumeria rubra L. -- Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. -- Strophanthus hispidus DC. -- Strophanthus kombe Oliv. -- Vinca major L.w -- Vinca minor L.f -- Symbols: aagricultural and vegetable seeds (Table 2A Part 1); ttree and shrub species (Table 2A Part 2); fflower, spice, herb, and medicinal seeds (Table 2A Part 3); wweed seeds. -- Last updated September 2008.
Accepted genera
Acokanthera G. Don -- Adenium Roem. & Schult. -- Aganonerion Pierre ex Spire -- Aganosma (Blume) G. Don -- Alafia Thouars -- Allamanda L. -- Allomarkgrafia Woodson -- Allowoodsonia Markgr. -- Alstonia R. Br., nom. cons. -- Alyxia Banks ex R. Br., nom. cons. -- Amalocalyx Pierre -- Ambelania Aubl. -- Amsonia Walter -- Ancylobotrys Pierre -- Anechites Griseb. -- Angadenia Miers -- Anodendron A. DC. -- Apocynum L. -- Artia Guillaumin -- Asketanthera Woodson -- Aspidosperma Mart. & Zucc., nom. cons. -- Baharuia Middleton -- Baissea A. DC. -- Beaumontia Wall. -- Bousigonia Pierre -- Callichilia Stapf -- Calocrater K. Schum. -- Cameraria L. -- Carissa L., nom. cons. -- Carruthersia Seem. -- Carvalhoa K. Schum. -- Catharanthus G. Don -- Cerbera L., nom. cons. prop. -- Cerberiopsis Vieill. ex Pancher & Sebert -- Chamaeclitandra (Stapf) Pichon -- Chilocarpus Blume -- Chonemorpha G. Don, nom. cons. -- Cleghornia Wight -- Clitandra Benth. -- Condylocarpon Desf. -- Couma Aubl. -- Craspidospermum Bojer ex A. DC. -- Crioceras Pierre -- Cycladenia Benth. -- Cyclocotyla Stapf -- Cylindropsis Pierre -- Delphyodon K. Schum. -- Dewevrella De Wild. -- Dictyophleba Pierre -- Diplorhynchus Welw. ex Ficalho & Hiern -- Dyera Hook. f. -- Echites P. Browne -- Ecua Middleton -- Elytropus Müll. Arg. -- Epigynum Wight -- Eucorymbia Stapf -- Farquharia Stapf -- Fernaldia Woodson -- Forsteronia G. Mey. -- Funtumia Stapf -- Galactophora Woodson -- Geissospermum Allemão -- Gonioma E. Mey. -- Grisseea Bakh. f. -- Hancornia Gomes -- Hanghomia Gagnep. & Thénint -- Haplophyton A. DC. -- Himatanthus Willd. ex Schult. -- Holarrhena R. Br. -- Hunteria Roxb. -- Hylaea J. F. Morales -- Ichnocarpus R. Br., nom. cons. -- Isonema R. Br. -- Ixodonerium Pit. -- Kamettia Kostel. -- Kibatalia G. Don -- Kopsia Blume, nom. cons. -- Lacmellea H. Karst. -- Landolphia P. Beauv., nom. cons. -- Laubertia A. DC. -- Laxoplumeria Markgr. -- Lepinia Decne. -- Lepiniopsis Valeton -- Leuconotis Jack -- Macoubea Aubl. -- Macropharynx Rusby -- Macrosiphonia Müll. Arg., nom. cons. -- Malouetia A. DC. -- Mandevilla Lindl. -- Mascarenhasia A. DC. -- Melodinus J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. -- Mesechites Müll. Arg. -- Microplumeria Baill. -- Molongum Pichon -- Mortoniella Woodson -- Motandra A. DC. -- Mucoa Zarucchi -- Neobracea Britton -- Neocouma Pierre -- Nerium L. -- Nouettea Pierre -- Ochrosia Juss. -- Odontadenia Benth. -- Oncinotis Benth. -- Orthopichonia H. Huber -- Pachypodium Lindl. -- Pacouria Aubl. -- Papuechites Markgr. -- Parahancornia Ducke -- Parameria Benth. -- Parepigynum Tsiang & P. T. Li -- Parsonsia R. Br., nom. cons. -- Peltastes Woodson -- Pentalinon Voigt -- Petchia Livera -- Picralima Pierre -- Plectaneia Thouars -- Pleiocarpa Benth. -- Pleioceras Baill. -- Plumeria L. -- Pottsia Hook. & Arn. -- Prestonia R. Br., nom. cons. -- Pycnobotrya Benth. -- Quiotania Zarucchi -- Rauvolfia L. -- Rhabdadenia Müll. Arg. -- Rhazya Decne. -- Rhigospira Miers -- Rhynchodia Benth. -- Saba (Pichon) Pichon -- Schizozygia Baill. -- Secondatia A. DC. -- Sindechites Oliv. -- Skytanthus Meyen -- Spirolobium Baill., nom. cons. -- Spongiosperma Zarucchi -- Stemmadenia Benth. -- Stephanostegia Baill. -- Stephanostema K. Schum. -- Stipecoma Müll. Arg. -- Strempeliopsis Benth. -- Strophanthus DC. -- Tabernaemontana L. -- Tabernanthe Baill. -- Temnadenia Miers -- Thenardia Kunth -- Thevetia L., nom. cons. -- Tintinnabularia Woodson -- Trachelospermum Lem., nom. cons. prop. -- Urceola Roxb., nom. cons. -- Vahadenia Stapf -- Vallariopsis Woodson -- Vallaris Burm. f. -- Vallesia Ruiz & Pav. -- Vinca L. -- Voacanga Thouars -- Willughbeia Roxb., nom. cons. -- Woytkowskia Woodson -- Wrightia R. Br.
References specific to this family
Cronquist page 876. Allorge, L. 1985. Contribution à l'étude des graines des Apocynaceae-Tabernaemontanoideae: origine de l'arille et ornementation du tégument séminal. Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat., B, Adansonia 7:433–451.
General references
Boerlage, J. G. 1897–1914. Icones Borgorienses, 4 vols. E.J. Brill, Leiden (plate numbers are in [ ]), Corner, E.J.H. 1976. The seeds of Dicots, esp. vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, New York, Cronquist, A. 1981. An integrated system of classification of flowering plants, 1,262 p. Columbia University Press, New York, Engler, A. and K. Prantl. 1924 and onward. Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilimien. W. Engelman, Leipzig, Gaertner, J. 1788–1805. De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. The Author, Stuttgart, Goldberg, A. 1986 (dicots) and 1989 (monocots). Classification, evolution, and phylogeny of the familes of Dicotyledons. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 58 for dicots (314 pp.) and 71 for monocots (74 pp.). [Goldberg's illustrations are reproduced from older publications and these should be consulted], Gunn, C.R. and J.V. Dennis. 1976. World guide to tropical drift seeds and fruits, 240 pp. The New York Times Book Co., New York, Gunn, C.R. and C.A. Ritchie. 1988. Identification of disseminules listed in the Federal Noxious Weed Act. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1719:1–313, Gunn, C.R., J.H. Wiersema, C.A. Ritchie, and J.H. Kirkbride, Jr. 1992 and amendments. Families and genera of Spermatophytes recognized by the Agricultural Research Service. Techn. Bull. U.S.D.A. 1796:1–500, LeMaout, E. and J. Decaisne. 1876. A general system of botany, 1,065 p. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, Mabberley, D.J. 1987. The plant-book, 706 p. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Martin, A.C. 1946. The comparative internal morphology of seeds. Amer. Midl. Naturalist 36:513–660, Roosmalen, M.G.M. van. 1985. Fruits of the Guianan flora, 483 pp. Institute of Systematic Botany, Wageningen Agricultural University. Drukkerij Veenman B.V., Wageningen, Spjut, R.W. 1994. A systematic treatment of fruit types. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 70:1–182, Wood, C.E., Jr. 1974. A student's atlas of flowering plants: Some dicotyledons of eastern North America, 120 pp. Harper and Row, New York.
Illustrations
Acceptable fruit and some S illustrations. Disseminule illustration(s): fruit, or seed, or embryo. Fruit illustration(s): Roosmalen, Engler & Prantl, Gaertner. Seed illustration(s): Gunn & Ritchie, Boerlage, LeMaout & Decaisne, Gunn & Dennis, Wood, Jr. Embryo illustration(s): Gunn & Ritchie, Wood, Jr., Martin.
• Fruit. 1 of 18. Melodinus orientalis Blume: fruit. • Seed. 2 of 18. Melodinus orientalis Blume: seed. • Fruit and seed. 3 of 18. Trachomitum sarmatiense Woodson: dehisced partial fruit with seeds with coma. • Seed. 4 of 18. Trachomitum sarmatiense Woodson: seeds without coma. • Seed. 5 of 18. Beaumontia grandiflora (Roxb.) Wall.: seed with coma. • Seed. 6 of 18. Beaumontia grandiflora (Roxb.) Wall.: seeds without coma. • Fruit. 7 of 18. Condylocarpon isthmicum (Vell.) A. DC.: partial fruit. • Seed. 8 of 18. Mesechites sanctae-crucis (S. Moore) Woodson: seed with coma. • Seed. 9 of 18. Mesechites sanctae-crucis (S. Moore) Woodson: seed without coma. • Seed. 10 of 18. Nerium oleander L.: seed. • Seed. 11 of 18. Plumeria rubra L.: seed. • Fruit. 12 of 18. Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.: fruit. • Seed. 13 of 18. Rauvolfia tetraphylla L.: seed. • Seed. 14 of 18. Tabernanthe iboga Baill.: seed. • Seed. 15 of 18. Vinca major L.: seeds. • Seed. 16 of 18. Carissa edulis Vahl: seeds. • Embryo. 17 of 18. Alstonia constricta F. Muell.: embryo. • Embryo. 18 of 18. Catharanthus pusillus (Murray) G. Don: embryo.
We advise against extracting comparative information from the descriptions. This is much more easily achieved using the DELTA data files or the interactive key, which allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting or lacking specified attributes, and distributions of character states within any set of taxa. See also Guidelines for using data taken from Web publications.
Cite this publication as: ‘J.H. Kirkbride, Jr., C.R. Gunn, and M.J. Dallwitz. 2000 onwards. Family guide for fruits and seeds: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. Version: 12th April 2021. delta-intkey.com’.
