Family: Asclepiadaceae
Kingdom: Plantae Rank: Family Parent: Gentianales Status: Valid
Common Names:
- Milkweed Family - English, United States of America
Vegetative Morphology
Habit: Lianas.
Leaves: Leaf simple, opposite, entire, generally with glands at the base.
Exudate: Latex white, abundant.
Reproductive Morphology
Fruit: Fruit a follicle with numerous seeds, each with plumose hairs.
Other
Uses: Species from one genus are cultivated as ornamental houseplants. Several species are used medicinally as laxatives, diuretics, diaphoretics, expectorants, carminatives.
Notes: Easily confused with lianas of the Apocynaceae and treated by some authors as part of that family.