Botany

B.Sc. Sem. III

Paper IV
Angiosperms: Taxonomy

FAMILY
APOCYNACEAE

By: Dr. Panzy Singh

Head, Associate Professor
Department of Botany
Isabella Thoburn College
Lucknow
 Systematic Position of the Family

Bentham & Hooker (1862) Engler & Prantl (1931) Hutchinson (1959)

Phanerogams Phanerogams Angiospermae

Dicotyledones Dicotyledones Dicotyledones

Gamopetalae Sympetalae Lignosae

Bicarpellatae Contortae Apocynales

Gentianales Apocynaceae Apocynaceae

Apocynaceae

Tabernaemontana divaricata
 FAMILY-APOCYNACEAE
There are about approximately 300 genera and 1500
species in this family. It is also known as Dogbane family.
Distribution: The members of this family are found throughout
the world, but they are more commonly met within the tropical
regions.
Habit: There is a great variation in the habit of the plants of this
family. They may be herbs, erect or twining shrubs or trees.
Catharanthus roseus (Verna- Sadabahar) is a perennial
herb; vallaris solanacea (Verna- Ramsar) is a large twining shrub;
Nerium Indicum (N. odorum) is a large shrub with beautiful red or
white flowers.
Thevetia peruviana (Verna- Pili Kaner) is a large shrub or a small
tree.
Plumeria acutifolia is a small sized tree and Alstonia scholaris is a
medium sized tree. In some genera, the stem becomes tuber like,
Thevetia peruviana e.g., Adenium. The species of Landolphia and Clitandra are
climbing shrubs.
 The latex is present in most of the genera.
Root: Tap and branched.
Stem: Usually erect; branched, solid, glabrous rarely tuber-
like and thick.
Leaves: The leaves are simple, petiolate, usually opposite
decussate. In rare cases the leaves are alternate or even
whorled (e.g., in Nerium odorum, Alstonia, etc.). Usually the
leaves are exstipulate and very rarely they may be stipulate.
Inflorescence: Usually the inflorescence is of cymose type.
It is very rarely solitary as in Catharanthus. In Carissa, the
flowers are found to be arranged in corymbose cymes.

Alstonia scholaris
 In Plumeria, the flowers are arranged in terminal cymes. In
Alstonia, the flowers are found to be arranged in umbellate
branched panicled cymes. In Rauvolfia, the flowers are
arranged in umbellate or corymbose cymes.
Flowers: The flowers are pedicellate; bracteate;
bracteolate; hermaphrodite, actinomorphic regular,
sometimes slightly zygomorphic, complete, hypogynous,
and pentamerous.
Calyx: Usually it consists of five sepals. The calyx is
generally divided almost to the base. The aestivation is
quincuncial.
Plumeria acutifolia
 Corolla: Usually the corolla consists of five petals,
gamopetalous. It is generally salver or funnel shaped. The
corolla tube usually possesses hairy appendage or scales
which are known as coronary appendages. The aestivation
is contorted.
Androecium: It consists of five stamens alternating with
the petals. The stamens are situated on the tube or the
throat of the corolla (i.e., epipetalous). The filaments are
short, anthers introrse, polyandrous or connate and often
adhere to the stigma. The anther lobes are sometimes
empty at their base and prolonged into spines.
Rauvolfia Serpentina
 Gynoecium: It consists of two carpels. The carpels may be

free (apocarpous) or connate (syncarpous); superior,

sometimes partly inferior as in Plumeria. The style is

simple and the stigma is thick and often bilobed. Rarely

the number of carpels exceeds, i.e., 3 to 5. Usually a

nectar secreting disc is situated beneath the gynoecium.

In syncarpous gynoecium, the ovary may be unilocular

with parietal placentation or marginal.

Aganosma dichotoma
 Fruit: In the case of free ovaries, the fruit is a pair of follicles.
Sometimes the fruits of separate ovaries fleshy and indehiscent,
or may be one seeded, e.g., Cameraria. In the case of syncarpous
ovary, usually the fruit is indehiscent, fleshy and berry-like, i.e.,
in Landolphia. In Cerbera, it may be a drupe. This fruit is coconut
like and distributed by means of water currents. In certain
genera, possessing syncarpous ovaries a two-valved capsule is
found, e.g., in Aspidosperma and Allamanda.
Seed: In dry fruits the seeds are generally winged, e.g., in
Plumeria. Sometimes the seed bears a tuft of hairs at the base,
Thevetia Peruviana e.g., in Kickxia, and sometimes at both ends, e.g., in Stropanthus.
The embryo is straight, with or without endosperm.
Pollination: Flowers are adapted for insect pollination and
they are visited by insects for nectar secreted by the
hypogynous disc. Presence of stigma at the edge or under
surface of the stylar head and the position of the anthers
rules out the chances of self pollination.
Winged seeds and presence of crown of hairs favour
distribution by wind.
 Economic Importance of The Family
The family is of little economic value. Some plants are
grown as ornamentals, while some possess medicinal
properties. A list of some important plants is given below:
l. Alstonia scholaris; Eng.—Dita bark; Verna. — Satwin.
This is a small grown as an ornamental. Its wood is quite
light and used for carvings. In Myanmar, the black boards
are prepared from its wood. The bark possesses medicinal
properties, which is used for diarrhoea and dysentery. Its
latex is applied to ulcers.
2.Beaumontia grandiflora; Eng.—Nepal trumpet flower—It
is a climbing shrub, usually grown as an ornamental for its
large. white fragrant flowers. It is native of the Eastern
Himalayas.
3.Beaumontia jerdoniana; This is also grown as an
Beaumontia jerdoniana
ornamental.
 4.Anodendron paniculatum; Its leaves and roots
possess medicinal properties.

5.Carissa carandas; Eng.—Karanda; Verna. -

Karaunda—This is a spiny shrub grows
throughout India for its sour edible fruits. The
fruits are used as vegetable and pickle is prepared
from them. plant makes a good hedge.

6.Carissa grandiflora; Eng.—Natal plum. - This is a

large spiny shrub usually grown in Maharashtra
and Baroda for its edible fruits.

Carissa carandas
 7.Carissa spinarum. This is a shrub or a small tree

cultivated throughout India for fragrant flowers and

hedge plants.

8.Carissa arduina; Syn. C. bispinosa; Eng.—Natal

plum—This is a thorny shrub grown for its edible

fruits.

9. Landolphia kirkii—The rubber is prepared from its

latex. They have leaves with hook tendrils.

Landolphia kirkii
 10. Ichnocarpus frutescens, Eng.—

blackcreeper; Verna.—Dudhilata, Siamalata.

This is a twining ornamental shrub. It is

found in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,

Bihar. Assam and the Sundarbans. The stems

are used for making ropes. baskets and

fishing traps. The leaves possess medicinal

properties.
Ichnocarpus frutescens
 11. Nerium indicum; Syn. N. odorum, N. oleander; Eng.—

Oleander. Verna. — Kaner It is a shrub. They are grown as

hedge plants. The plants possess medicinal properties.

12. Rauvolfia serpentina; Syn. Ophioxylon serpentinum;

Verna.- Chhotachand is a small shrub found in Assam,

Dehradun, Bihar, the Western Ghats and Bengal, the roots

possess medicinal properties and used in the treatment

of hypertension, mental disorders and related ailments.

Rauvolfia serpentina
 13.Plumeria rubra forma acutifolia: Syn. P.
acutifolia; Verna. - Goburchampa is grown as an
ornamental, It possesses several medicinal
properties.

14.Plumeria alba. - A small tree grown as an

ornamental. The latex is applied to ulcers.

15.Thevetia peruviana; Syn. Thevetia nerifolia;

Eng.—Yellow oleander; Verna. -Pilikaner. It is a
shrub The plants are grown as ornamental. They
are also grown as hedge plants. The latex is highly
poisonous.
Plumeria rubra
 16.Wrightia tinctoria; Verna. - Dudhi—A tree, found in

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. A blue dye is

obtained from its flowers and fruits The fruits are edible.

The bark and seeds possess medicinal properties.

17.Wrightia tomentosa; Verna. - Dharauli. The seeds

yield a yellow dye. The leaves and fruits are edible. Its

soft wood is used for carvings. The bark and roots used as

an antidote for snake bite.

Wrightia tinctoria
 18. Aganosma dichotoma —This is a climbing shrub

grown as an ornamental in the gardens.

19. Allamanda cathartica; Eng, - Allamanda- This is a

beautiful climbing shrub, grown as an ornamental in the

gardens, It is native of Central America and Brazil.

Allamanda cathartica
 Description of Some important plants in semi-technical language

Catharanthus roseus
Verna- Sadabahar.
Habit: A perennial herb.
Stem: Erect, cylindrical, branched, solid, reddish green,
glabrous.
Leaf: Cauline, simple, opposite, decussate, petiolate,
exstipulate, obovate, entire, glabrous, mucronate apex,
unicostate reticulate venation.
Inflorescence: Cymose, flowers arranged in axillary pairs.
Flowers: Pedicellate, bracteate, hermaphrodite,
actinomorphic, complete, pink, hypogynous.
 Calyx: 5 polypetalous, glandular, green, inferior, quincuncial aestivation.
Corolla: 5 gamopetalous forming corolla tube, throat of corolla tube
hairy forming a corona, contorted aestivation.
Androecium: 5 free, epipetalous, alternate to petals, almost sessile or
short filament anthers dorsifixed, connivant round the stigma, yellowish.
Gynoecium: 2 carpels (bicarpellary), syncarpous, carpels united above in
the region of style and stigma, ovaries free (apocarpous below), with
single style and stigma, ovaries superior, nectar secreting disc present
beneath ovaries, unilocular, marginal placentation, glands present
alternating with carpels, style filiform, stigma thickened, dumb-bell
shaped.
Catharanthus roseus Fruit: A pair of elongated follicles.
 Tabernaemontana divaricata
Verna : Chandni; Eng. Crape jasmine.
Habit: A large shrub.
Stem: Erect, solid, branched, woody, latex present,
glabrous, green, cylindrical.
Leaf: Cauline and ramal, simple, opposite, petiolate,
margin smooth, apex acute, unicostate reticulate
venation.
Inflorescence: Cymose, terminal cyme.
Flower: Pedicellate, bracteate, bracteolate,
hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, complete, hypogynous,
pentamerous, cyclic, white.
Calyx: 5 gamosepalous, valvate or imbricate aestivation.
Corolla: 5 gamopetalous, forming a corolla tube, twisted
aestivation.
Androecium: 5 free, epipetalous, included in the corolla
tube, introrse; two-celled, basifixed.
Gynoecium: 2 (bicarpellary) syncarpous, ovary superior or
partly inferior, bilocular, axile placentation, style one,
stigma simple, bifid, several ovules in each locule.
Floral Formula:
 Nerium indicum Mill

Verna. Kaner;

Habit: A larger shrub or small tree.

Stem: Erect, aerial, solid, woody, cylindrical, glabrous,

branched, nodes swollen, milky latex present.

Leaf: Cauline and Ramal, simple, whorled with three leaves in

each whorl, sub-sessile, exstipulate, linear-lanceolate; unicostate

reticulate venation, latex present.

Inflorescence: Cymose, terminal dichasial cyme.

Flower: Pedicellate, bracteate, bracteolate, hermaphrodite,
actinomorphic, complete, yellow, hypogynous, pentamerous,
cyclic, pink.

Calyx: 5, polypetalous, quincuncial aestivation, purple red.

Corolla: 5 gamopetalous, campanulate, corolla tube

expanding above, throat of corolla tube hairy forming a
corona, yellow, contorted aestivation, red or white.

Androecium: 5 epipetalous included in the corolla tube,

alternating with the petals, polyandrous, filaments short
anthers connivant round the stigmatic head, basifixed, long
hair appendages present on their apices, dithecous, introrse,
protruded feathery connective present.
Gynoecium: Bicarpellary, syncarpous, ovary superior,
bilocular, many ovules in each loculus, axile placentation, a
nectar secreting disc present beneath the ovary, style long,
filiform, stigma thickened and dumb-bell shaped.

Floral Formula: