Asclepiadaceae: Milkweed Family. Identify plants, flowers, shrubs and trees.

Thomas J. Elpel's
Web World Portal

Wildflowers
& Weeds

E-Mail

Asclepiadaceae: Milkweed Family Plant Identification Characteristics.

Asclepiadaceae
Plants of the Milkweed Family
Now considered a subfamily of the Dogbane family.

The Milkweeds are perennial herbs, shrubs or rarely trees, usually with acrid, milky juice and opposite or sometimes whorled leaves. The flowers are bisexual and regular, typically grouped in clusters. There are 5 separate sepals and 5 united petals, plus in some species a corona (different from the corolla) that looks like an extra set of petals. The corona consists of 5 hood-like forms facing towards the center of the flower. Inside the corona there are 5 stamens fused to the ovary. The ovary is positioned superior. It consists of 2 mostly-separate carpels. Each carpel matures as a separate follicle, a pod-like dry fruit with a seam down one side. The pods are filled with numerous seeds with silky tufts. Worldwide, there are 250 genera and 2,000 species, mostly native to the tropics. The waxplant (Hoya) is a common houseplant from this family. There are 5 genera across the United States including Cynanchum, Gonolobus, Matelea, and Sarcostemma.

Key Words: Plants with opposite leaves, milky juice and big pods. Irregular, crown-like flowers.

Please e-mail Thomas J. Elpel to report mistakes or to inquire about purchasing high resolution photos of these plants.