6791.000 Asclepias L.

ODONTOSTELMA Rendle

TRACHYCALYMMA Bullock

Goyder, D.J. (2001) A revision of the tropical African genus Trachycalymma (K. Schum.) Bullock Kew Bulletin 56 129-161

Goyder, D.J. (2009) A synopsis of Asclepias (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae) in tropical Africa Kew Bulletin 64 369 - 399

Description of the genus

Shrubs or herbs, with milky latex. Leaves opposite or whorled; axils of leaves without bristles. Inflorescences erect, umbellate; flowers all opening ± simultaneously. Corolla with short tube, 5-lobed. Corona of 5 lobes, arising from near base of staminal column, flat with lateral margins folded forwards to form a cavity. Anthers 2-locular, appendaged. Follicles usually 1. Seeds with tuft of hairs.

Derivation of name: named after Aesculapius, the ancient Greek god of medicine

Worldwide: 100 species in North and Central America; some naturalised in the Old World

Zimbabwe: 13 taxa.

Asclepias densiflora

Links to taxa:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus

SpeciesFZ divisionsContent
adscendens (Schltr.) Schltr.E
aurea (Schltr.) Schltr.W,C,E,SDescription, Image
cucullata (Schltr.) Schltr. subsp. cucullata N,EDescription, Image
cucullata (Schltr.) Schltr. subsp. scabrifolia (S. Moore) Goyder[NrEnd]EDescription, Image
curassavica L.N,W,C,EDescription, Image
densiflora N.E. Br.W,C,E,SDescription, Image
eminens (Harv.) Schltr.N,W,C,E,SDescription, Image
fimbriata Weim.[NrEnd?][DD]EDescription, Image
fulva N.E. Br.N,C,EDescription, Image
graminifolia (Wild) Goyder[NrEnd][LR-nt]EDescription, Image
minor (S. Moore) GoyderC
palustris (K. Schum.) Schltr.N,C,EDescription, Image
randii S. MooreC,E,SDescription, Image

Other sources of information about Asclepias:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Asclepias
Flora of Caprivi: Asclepias
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Asclepias
Flora of Malawi: Asclepias
Flora of Mozambique: Asclepias
Flora of Zambia: Asclepias
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Asclepias

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Asclepias
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Asclepias
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Asclepias
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Asclepias
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Asclepias
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Asclepias
JSTOR Plant Science: Asclepias
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Asclepias
Plants of the World Online: Asclepias
Tropicos: Asclepias
Wikipedia: Asclepias

Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Genus page: Asclepias.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/genus.php?genus_id=1140, retrieved 29 March 2024

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