Family: Apocynaceae

Habit: Herbs, shrubs, trees, vines, and lianas.

Leaves: Leaves usually opposite, sometimes alternate or whorled, simple, the margins entire.

Exudate: Latex present, white, milky.

Inflorescence: Inflorescence terminal, axillary, or ramiflorous, corymbiform, paniculate, racemose, solitary, or umbellate.

Flowers: Flowers actinomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous; sepals 5, connate at least at base; petals 5, connate, the tube short or long, the lobes free or connate, variously shaped but commonly campanulate, convolute, rotate, or tubular; stamens 5, alternate, fused to the corolla tube, the anthers free or fused in tube around gynoecium; pollinia present in some genera; gynoecium often with nectaries at the base or with the stigma, the ovary typically superior, sometimes appearing somewhat inferior, the carpels typically 2, free or rarely connate, the styles united and swollen at apex, the stigma prominent; placentation marginal, parietal, or axile, the ovules generally numerous per locule.

Fruit: Fruit a follicle, solitary or usually in pairs, capsule, berry, or drupe.

Seeds: Seeds one to many per fruit, comose or winged, or sometimes arillate.

Notes: Asclepiadaceae is included in this family.