The document discusses the plant family Asclepiadaceae (milkweed family). It provides the systematic position of the family, lists some common plants in the family such as crown flower and milkweed, and describes the diagnostic characters and general characters of the plants in this family. It also discusses the economic importance of some plants in the family which are used for applications such as medicine, fiber, and as ornamental plants.

1. PLANT TAXONOMY
-ASCLEPIADACEAE
R. VELMURUGAN
Assistant Professor
Ancillary Botany
Saiva Bhanu Kshatriya College
Aruppukottai
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2. ASCLEPIADACEAE
COMMON PLANTS
COMMON PLANTS
⚫ Calotropis gigantea - Crown Flower - Erukku
⚫ Pergularia daemia - Trellis Vine - Veliparuthi
⚫ Cryptostegia grandiflora - Rubber Vine - KarutaPalai
⚫ ASCLEPIAS Sp. - MilkWeed - MalaiyErukku
⚫ Dischidia rafflesiana - Ant Plant
⚫ Sarcostemma Sp. - Moon Plant
⚫ TYLOPHORA Sp. - Indian Ipecac - NaiPalai
⚫ Hemidesmus indicus - Indian Sarsaparilla - Nannaari
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3. ASCLEPIADACEAE
Calotropis Sp. - Crown Flower
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4. ASCLEPIADACEAE
Pergularia sp. - Trellis Vine
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5. ASCLEPIADACEAE
Cryptostegia sp. - Rubber vine
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6. ASCLEPIADACEAE
ASCLEPIAS Sp. –MilkWeed
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7. ASCLEPIADACEAE
Hemidesmus indicus -Indian Sarsaparilla
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8. ASCLEPIADACEAE
Dischidia rafflesiana - Ant Plant
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9. ASCLEPIADACEAE
Sarcostemma Sp. -Moon Plant
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10. ASCLEPIADACEAE
TYLOPHORA Sp. –Indian Ipecac
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11. ASCLEPIADACEAE
-Milk Weed Family
SYSTAMATIC POSITION
⚫ CLASS : DICOTYLEDONS
⚫ SUB-CLASS : GAMOPETALAE
⚫ SERIES : BICARPELLATE
⚫ ORDER : GENTIANALES
⚫ FAMILY : ASCLEPIADACEAE (Milk Weed Family)
⚫ GENERA : 320
⚫ SPECIES : 1800
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12. ASCLEPIADACEAE
DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS
DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
⚫ Presence of Latex
⚫ Leaves are Opposite -Decussate
⚫ Flowers are Actinomorphic
⚫ Corolla is Corolline Corona
⚫ Filaments are Staminal Corona
⚫ Presence of Translators.
⚫ Sub-Apocarpous Pistil.
⚫ Presence of Gynostegium
⚫ Fruits are A Pair of Follicle.
⚫ Seeds are Comose.
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13. ASCLEPIADACEAE
GENERAL CHARACTERS
GENERAL CHARACTERS OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
⚫ PLANTS are mostly Shrubs and some Herbs and Climbers
with Milky Latex.
⚫ LEAVES are Simple, Exstipulate, Opposite-Decussate.
⚫ STEM is Aerial and Herbaceous or Hollow Woody.
⚫ INFLORESENCE is Cymose – Umbellate Cymes.
⚫ FLOWERS are Pedicellate, Bracteate,Bracteolate, Bisexual,
Actinomorphic and Hypogynous.
⚫ CALYX Sepals- 5, Polysepalous and Imbricate Aestivation
⚫ COROLLA Petals-5, Gamopetalous and Valvate or Twisted
Aestivation. Corolla Ornamented with Hairy Outgrowth, called
Corolline Corona.
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14. ASCLEPIADACEAE
GENERAL CHARACTERS
ANDROECIUM
⚫ STAMENS are 5 and Epipetalous.
⚫ FILAMENTS are unit to form a Ornamented Tube around the Gynoecium, called
Staminal Corona.
⚫ ANTHERS are Dithecous and are attached to the Stigma to form Gynostegium
or Gynostegium.
⚫ POLLENS are in the form of Mass in a Sac Like Structure Called Pollinium.
GYNOECIUM
⚫ OVARY is Bicarpellary, Bilocular, Sub-Apocarpous and Superior with
Many Ovules on Marginal Placentation.
⚫ STYLE is Simple and Terminal
⚫ STIGMA is Capitate.
POLLINATION is Entomophily by Clip Mechanism.
FRUIT is a pair of Follicle.
SEEDS are Endospermous with Comose Hairs.
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15. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
-VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
DISTRIBUTION
⚫ Mostly in Tropical Region.
⚫ 1800 Species Under 320 Genera
HABIT
⚫ Mostly Perennial Shrubs and Herbs with Milky Latex.
⚫ Perennial Shrubs - Calotropis
⚫ Perennial Herbs – Asclepias
HABITAT
⚫ Xerophytes
ROOT
⚫ Branched Tap Root System.
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16. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
-VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
STEM
⚫ In Calotropis, the stem is Aerial, Erect, Hollow and Woody
⚫ In Asclepias, the stem is Aerial, Erect and herbaceous
STEM MODIFICATION
⚫ Twiner Climbers – Pergularia
⚫ Epiphytic Climbers – Dischidia
⚫ Succulent Stem - Sarcostemma
Phylloclade
⚫ In Sarcostemma, the leaves are reduced in to Scales and the Stem
becomes Fleshy Green to carry the Photosynthesis
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17. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
-VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
LEAVES
⚫ Simple, Petiolate or Sessile, Exstipulate, Opposite-
Decussate and Reticulate Venation.
LEAF MODIFICATION
⚫ Pitcher Like Leaves
⚫ Dischidia is a Epiphytic Weak Stem Insectivorous Plant.
⚫ In Dischidia, the Leaves are Modified in to Pitcher Like
Structure for Collect Insects and Gets Mineral Nutrients.
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18. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
-VEGETATIVE MORPHOLOGY
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• The Insect -Ants, Died and
Decay in to Simpler Mineral
Compounds when Fall on
Rain Water of the Pitcher.
• The Dischidia Develops
Adventitious Root from the
Stem or Petiole that enters
the Pitcher and Absorb the
Water and Simpler Mineral
Nutrients.

19. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
INFLORESENCE
⚫ Terminal or Axillary
⚫ Cymose – Umbellate Cyme.
FLOWER
⚫ Pedicellate, Bracteate, Ebracteolate, Complete, Bisexual,
Regular, Actinomorphic, Pentamerous and Hypogynous.
CALYX
⚫ Sepals–5, Polysepalous and Imbricate Aestivation
COROLLA
⚫ Petals –5, Gamopetalous, Valvate or Imbricate Aestivation.
Corolla is Ornamented with Hairy Outgrowth, this Corolla is
called Corolline Corona.
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20. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
ANDROECIUM
⚫ STAMENS are 5 and Epipetalous.
⚫ FILAMENTS are unit to form Ornamented Tube around the
Gynoecium, called Staminal Corona.
⚫ ANTHERS are Dithecous and are attached to the Stigma to
form Gynostegium or Gynostemium.
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21. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
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POLLENS or POLLENGRAINS
POLLENS are Collected in a Bags called Translators.
• A Translator consists of a Sac-like structure called the
Pollinium, a narrow Stalk called Caudicle and a sticky Disc
base called Corpusculum
• The Pollinium contains Many of Pollengrains.
• Translator is of Two types, namely
• Spoon Shaped Translator -Cryptostegia
• Clip Shaped Translator -Calotropis

22. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
REPRODUCTIVE MORPHOLOGY
GYNOECIUM
⚫ OVARY is Bicarpellary, Bilocular, Sub-Apocarpous and
Superior with Many Ovules on Marginal Placentation.
⚫ STYLE is Simple and Terminal
⚫ STIGMA is Capitate.
POLLINATION is Entomophily by Clip or Translator Mechanism
FRUIT is a Pair of Follicle.
SEEDS are Endospermous with Comose Hairs.
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23. ASCLEPIADACEAE
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF CALOTROPIS Sp.
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF CALOTROPIS Sp.
HABIT
⚫ Highly branched Shrub with Milky Latex.
HABITAT
⚫ Mesophytes
ROOT
⚫ Branched Tap Root System.
STEM
⚫ Aerial, Erect, Hollow and Woody
LEAVES
⚫ Simple, Sessile, Exstipulate, Opposite-Decussate and
Reticulate Venation.
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25. ASCLEPIADACEAE
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF CALOTROPIS Sp.
INFLORESENCE
⚫ Cymose – Umbellate Cyme.
FLOWER
⚫ Pedicellate, Bracteate, Ebracteolate, Complete, Bisexual,
Regular, Actinomorphic, Pentamerous and Hypogynous.
CALYX
⚫ Sepals–5, Polysepalous and Imbricate Aestivation
COROLLA
⚫ Petals –5, Gamopetalous, Valvate Imbricate Aestivation.
Corolla is Ornamented with Hairy Outgrowth, this Corolla is
called Corolline Corona.
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26. ASCLEPIADACEAE
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF CALOTROPIS Sp.
ANDROECIUM
⚫ STAMENS are 5 and Epipetalous.
⚫ FILAMENTS are unit to form Ornamented Tube around the
Gynoecium, called Staminal Corona.
⚫ ANTHERS are Dithecous and are attached to the Stigma to form
Gynostegium or Gynostemium.
GYNOECIUM
⚫ OVARY is Bicarpellary, Bilocular, Sub-Apocarpous and Superior
with Many Ovules on Marginal Placentation.
⚫ STYLE is Simple and Terminal
⚫ STIGMA is Capitate.
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27. ASCLEPIADACEAE
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF CALOTROPIS Sp.
POLLINATION is Entomophily by Clip Translator Mechanism.
FRUIT is a pair of Follicle.
SEEDS are Endospermous with Comose Hairs.
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28. ASCLEPIADACEAE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ASCLEPIADACEAE
Calotropis Sp. - Crown Flower - Erukku
⚫ The Stem Fiber is Used to Prepare Cordage and Twines
⚫ The Comose Hairs of seed is used as Stuffing Materials of
Pillows.
⚫ The milky Latex is used in Tanning Industries.
⚫ Plant is Used for Skin Disease, Leprosy and Piles.
⚫ The Leaves are used for Swellings.
Pergularia daemia - Trellis Vine - Veliparuthi
⚫ Leaf Juice is used as the Remedy of Diarrhea, Asthma etc.,
⚫ Leaves are applied for Rheumatic Swelling
⚫ Roots are used to Anemia, Leprosy and Piles.
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29. ASCLEPIADACEAE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Dischidia rafflesiana - Ant Plant
⚫ The Roots are Chewed as a Remedy for Cough.
Cryptostegia grandiflora - Rubber vine
⚫ It is Grown as an Ornamental Climbing Shrubs in the
Gardens for its Attractive Red- Rose Flowers.
⚫ The Milky Latex is used for the Manufacture of Rubber.
Asclepias curassavica (Blood Flower)
⚫ It is grown as an Ornamental Perennial Herb in the Gardens
for its attractive clusters of Flowers.
⚫ Roots are used for the Treatment of Piles and Gonorrhea.
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30. ASCLEPIADACEAE
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Hemidesmus indicus -Indian Sarsaparilla
⚫ Dried Root contains Hemidesmus that used as Blood
Purifier and also used for Chronic Rheumatism and Urinary
Diseases.
Sarcostemma acidum - Moon Plant
⚫ Root is used as Antidote for Snake Bite.
Tylophora indica -Indian Ipecac
⚫ Roots are used for the Treatment of Asthma, Bronchitis and
Whooping Cough.
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