Apocynaceae facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Apocynaceae

Vinca major
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genera
See text.

The Apocynaceae family, also known as the dogbane family, is a group of flowering plants. This family includes many different kinds of plants, such as trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas (climbing vines). Most plants in this family have a milky sap. There are about 200 different groups of plants (called genera) and 2,000 different kinds (called species) in the Apocynaceae family.

What Makes Apocynaceae Plants Special?
Images for kids
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What Makes Apocynaceae Plants Special?

How They Grow

The dogbane family has plants that grow in many ways. Some are annual plants, meaning they live for only one year. Others are perennial herbs, which means they grow back year after year. There are also stem succulents (plants with thick, fleshy stems), woody shrubs, trees, and vines that climb. If you cut or injure most of these plants, they will ooze a milky sap. This sap often contains a substance called latex.

Leaves and Stems

The leaves of these plants are usually simple, meaning each leaf is a single, undivided blade. Leaves can grow in different patterns. Sometimes, they appear one at a time on alternating sides of the stem. This is called an alternate arrangement. More often, leaves grow in pairs on opposite sides of the stem. They can also grow in groups of three or more, forming a circle around the stem. This is called a whorl. When leaves are paired, each pair often grows at a 90-degree angle to the pair below it.

Most plants in this family do not have stipules. Stipules are small, leaf-like parts found at the base of the leaf stem in some plants. If they are present in Apocynaceae, they are usually very small.

Flowers and Fruits

The flowers of the dogbane family are usually very colorful and noticeable. They have a round shape, meaning they look the same if you cut them in half in any direction. These flowers often grow in clusters called cymes or racemes. Sometimes, they grow in tight bundles or even by themselves.

Each flower has both male and female parts. They have five sepals, which are like small leaves that protect the bud. These sepals are joined together at the bottom. There are also five petals that are joined to form a tube. Inside the flower, there are four or five stamens, which are the male parts that make pollen. These stamens are attached to the petals.

The top part of the female organ, called the style, is often wide and thick just below the stigma. The ovary, which holds the seeds, is usually located above the other flower parts. It often has two parts that are joined at the top by a shared style and stigma.

The fruit of these plants can be different types. It might be a drupe, which is a fleshy fruit with a hard pit inside, like a peach. It could also be a berry, a capsule (a dry fruit that splits open), or a follicle (a dry fruit that splits along one side).

Images for kids

Alstonia scholaris, showing how leaves are arranged.
Rhigospira quadrangularis, part of a plant. 1) the flower cluster and 2) a flower, to scale; 3) flower petals in bud, showing their shape and 4) the same cut open when expanded, showing how they overlap and where the stamens are, both magnified; 5) the sepals, disk, very short style, and stigma, to scale; 6) the same, magnified; 7) a stamen, much magnified.
Acokanthera oblongifolia
Adenium obesum
Allamanda cathartica
Alstonia scholaris
Alyxia oliviformis
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Ancylobothrys capensis
Apteranthes burchardii
Asclepias curassavica
Caralluma acutangula
Caralluma europaea
Caralluma socotrana
Cascabela thevetia (also known as Thevetia peruviana)
Catharanthus roseus
Cerbera manghas
Cryptolepis dubia
Holarrhena pubescens
Hoodia gordonii
Hoya carnosa
Mandevilla boliviensis
Nerium oleander
Ochrosia borbonica
Pachypodium lamerei
Pachypodium lamerei growth habit
Periploca graeca
Plumeria rubra
Rhabdadenia madida
Rauvolfia serpentina
Saba senegalensis
Secamone alpini
Stapelia gigantea
Strophanthus speciosus
Tabernaemontana divaricata
Tabernanthe iboga in flower and fruit.
Trachelospermum jasminoides
Vinca minor
Wrightia tinctoria
Wrightia antidysenterica
Wrightia tinctoria single flower
Acokanthera oblongifolia
Adenium obesum
Adenium obesum dehiscence of single fruit.
Allamanda cathartica
Alstonia scholaris
Alyxia oliviformis
Ancylobothrys capensis
Asclepias syriaca dehiscent follicles (before unfurling of pappi)
Asclepias curassavica dehiscent follicles shedding seeds with unfurled pappi
Cerbera manghas
Cryptolepis dubia
Holarrhena pubescens
Hoodia gordoniI
Mandevilla boliviensis
Nerium oleander (dehiscence)
Ochrosia borbonica
Pachypodium namaquanum
Periploca graeca
Plumeria alba
Rauvolfia serpentina
Saba senegalensis unripe fruit
Saba senegalensis: dissection of ripe, edible fruit
Secamone parvifolia
Stapelia gigantea
Strophanthus speciosus (dehiscence)
Tabernaemontana catharinensis (dehiscence)
Tabernanthe iboga
Thevetia peruviana
Thevetia peruviana: dissection of toxic fruits.
Trachelospermum jasminoides (dehiscence)
Trachelospermum jasminoides: individual seeds, showing pappus
Vinca major (seeds)
Vinca minor: botanical plate showing paired fruits (no. 5)
Wrightia tinctoria
Adenium obesum growth habit of wild specimens, Tanzania
Adenium obesum close-up of colossal specimen, Ghana
Adenium obesum trunk of extreme pachycaul specimen, Socotra
Pachypodium lamerei wild specimen of maximum height (approx 6 m (20 ft)) attained by species
Pachypodium lamerei in flower
Pachypodium lamerei mature, multi-trunked specimen cultivated in glasshouse
Pachypodium namaquanum