This document provides information on the Asclepiadaceae plant family. It discusses the classification, distribution, habitat, morphology, and examples of some members of the family. The family has 280 genera and 1800 species that are mainly found in tropical regions. Plants in the family are mostly herbs, shrubs, or woody climbers that produce milky latex. Flowers are bisexual and have a fused corolla with corolline corona. Some economically important members include Asclepias curassavica which is used ornamentally and medicinally, Cryptostegia grandiflora which produces latex for rubber, and Hemidesmus indicus which has medicinal roots.

1. ASCLEPIADACEAE
(Milk Weed Family)
PRESENTED BY:
SELVAM G
I MSC (BOTANY)
BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY

2. CLASSIFICATION
• KINGDOM: Phanerogams
• DIVISION : Spermatophyta
• CLASS : Dicotyledons
• SUB CLASS : Gamopetalae
• SERIES : Bicarpellate
• ORDER : Gentianales
• FAMILY : Asclepiadaceae

3. • Distribution:
It has 280 genera and 1800 species in this family.
• Habitat:
The members of this family are mainly found in
the tropical regions of the world.
• Habit:
The plants of this family are mostly herbs , shrubs
or woody climbers with milky latex.

4. • Leaves:
The leaves are simple, opposite,decussate and
exstipulate. In many cases the leaves are fleshy
and covered with a coating of wax, e.g.,
Calotropis.
• Inflorescence:
The inflorescence is of two types, i.e.:
(1) Cymose and
(2) Racemose.

5. • Flowers:
The flowers are bisexual, pedicellate,
bracteate, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic.
• Calyx:
It consists of five sepals, polysepalous .The
aestivation is imbricate.

6. • Corolla:
It consists of five united petals
(i.e.,gamopetalous). Aestivation is valvate or
twisted. It has hairs or appendages are found
inside or at the mouth of the corolla forming
the corolline corona.

7. • Androecium:
It consists of five stamens. The anthers are
dithecous,united laterally. With the result of the
union of anthers and pistils, the gynostegium is
formed.
The pollen grains of each half anther associated
in tetrads are found in a sac like structure known
as pollinium.
The pollen grains are seen in the form of
translators.

9. • Gynoecium:
It consists of two carpels, bicarpellary, superior
ovary, ovules on marginal placentation.
• Fruit:
Generally it is a pair of follicles.
• Seed:
The seeds are flat, endospermous and are
crowned by a fruit of hairs.

10. Calotropis procera
• Habit:
Shrub or herb
• Stem:
Erect, branched, woody, herbaceous,
solid, cylindrical, tomentose.
• Leaf:
Simple, sessile, opposite decussate, exstipulate,
obovate oblong, reticulate venation, latex is
present.

12. Obovate oblong

14. • Inflorescence:
Cymose, umbellate cyme.
• Flower:
Pedicellate, bracteate, hermaphrodite,
actinomorphic, regular, complete, hypogynous.
• Calyx:
5 sepals, polysepalous, greenish, Twisted
aestivation.

15. • Corolla:
5 petals, gamopetalous, valvate aestivation.
• Androecium:
Five stamens, epipetalous, anthers are
dithecous ,free, attached to stigma. The pollen
grains of each cell aglutinated into sac like
pollinium.

16. Pollinium

17. • Gynoecium:
2 carpels (bicarpellary), syncarpous, ovary
superior, unilocular, marginal placentation.
• Fruit:
A pair of follicles.

19. Economic Importance
• Asclepias curassavica; Eng.-Blood flower; It is
cultivated as an ornamental. The plant is of
medicinal value. The root is used as a
medicine for piles.
• Cryptostegia grandiflora: This is a beautiful
climbing shrub with red-rose flowers, grown
as ornamental and it is also called as “rubber
vine” .from the milky latex rubber is
manufactured.

20. • Daemia extensa: A fibre is obtained from its
stem. The juice of leaves is used medicinally in
several ways, e.g., as the remedy of diarrhoea,
asthama, etc.
• Dischidia rafflesiana : This is an epiphytic. The
roots are chewed as a remedy for coughs.
• Hemidesmus indicus : The roots are aromatic
and medicinal for rheumatism, scorpion and
snake bite.

21. Asclepias curassavica

22. Cryptostegia grandiflora

23. Hemidesmus indicus

24. THANKING YOU