The Asclepiadoideae are a subfamily of plants in the family Apocynaceae. Formerly, they were treated as a separate family under the name Asclepiadaceae, e.g. by APG II, and known as the milkweed family.

They form a group of perennial herbs, twining shrubs, lianas or rarely trees but notably also contain a significant number of leafless stem succulents. The name comes from the type genus Asclepias (milkweeds).

There are 348 genera, with about 2,900 species. They are mainly located in the tropics to subtropics, especially in Africa and South America.

The florally advanced tribe Stapelieae within this family contains the relatively familiar stem succulent genera such as Huernia, Stapelia and Hoodia. They are remarkable for the complex mechanisms they have developed for pollination, which independently parallel the unrelated Orchidaceae, especially in the grouping of their pollen into pollinia. The fragrance from the flowers, often called "carrion", attracts flies. The flies pollinate the flowers.

Many new hybrids have been formed due to the unique fertilization method of the flowers.

Tribes and genera 

In 2014, Endress, Liede-Schumann and Meve recognised five tribes. Some of the genera they accepted are regarded as synonyms by other sources.

Asclepiadeae

Adelostemma Hook.f.
Aidomene Stopp
Araujia Brot.
Asclepias L.
Aspidoglossum E.Mey.
Aspidonepsis Nicholas
Astephanus R.Br.
Barjonia Decne.
Blepharodon Decne.
Calciphila Liede
Calotropis R.Br.
Cordylogyne E.Mey.
Cynanchum L.
Diplolepis R.Br.
Ditassa R.Br.
Fanninia Harv.
Fischeria DC.
Funastrum E.Fourn.
Glossonema Decne.
Glossostelma Schltr.
Gomphocarpus R.Br.
Gonolobus Michx.
Graphistemma (Champ.
Gyrostelma E.Fourn.
Hemipogon Decne.
Holostemma R.Br.
Hypolobus E.Fourn.
Ibatia Decne.
Jobinia E.Fourn.
Kanahia R.Br.
Lachnostoma Kunth
Macroscepis Kunth
Mahawoa Schltr.
Margaretta Oliv.
Matelea Aubl.
Merrillanthus Chun
Metaplexis R.Br.
Metastelma R.Br.
Microloma R.Br.
Minaria T.U.P.Konno
Miraglossum Kupicha
Monsanima Liede
Morrenia Lindl.
Nautonia Decne.
Nephradenia Decne.
Odontanthera Wight
Odontostelma Rendle
Oncinema Arn.
Orthosia Decne.
Oxypetalum R.Br.
Oxystelma R.Br.
Pachycarpus E.Mey.
Parapodium E.Mey.
Pentacyphus Schltr.
Pentarrhinum E.Mey.
Pentastelma Tsiang
Pentatropis R.Br.
Peplonia Decne.
Pergularia L.
Petalostelma E.Fourn.
Phaeostemma E.Fourn.
Pherotrichis Decne.
Philibertia Kunth
Pseudolachnostoma Morillo
Raphistemma Wall.
Rhyssostelma Decne.
Rhytidostemma Morillo
Rojasia Malme
Schizoglossum E.Mey.
Schizostephanus Hochst.
Schubertia Mart.
Scyphostelma Baill.
Seshagiria Ansari
Sichuania M.G.Gilbert
Solenostemma Hayne
Stathmostelma K.Schum.
Stelmagonum Baill.
Stenomeria Turcz.
Stenostelma Schltr.
Tassadia Decne.
Trachycalymma (K.Schum.)
Tweedia Hook.
Tylodontia Griseb.
Vincetoxicum Wolf
Widgrenia Malme
Woodia Schltr.
Xysmalobium R.Br.

Ceropegieae

Anisotoma Fenzl
Anomalluma Plowes
Apteranthes J.C.Mikan
Australluma Plowes
Baynesia Bruyns
Boucerosia Wight
Brachystelma Sims
Caralluma R.Br.
Caudanthera Plowes
Ceropegia L.
Conomitra Fenzl
Desmidorchis Ehrenb.
Duvalia Haw.
Duvaliandra M.G.Gilbert
Echidnopsis Hook.f.
Edithcolea N.E.Br.
Emplectanthus N.E.Br.
Heterostemma Wight
Hoodia Sweet
Huernia R.Br.
Larryleachia Plowes
Lavrania Plowes
Leptadenia R.Br.
Monolluma Plowes
Neoschumannia Schltr.
Notechidnopsis Lavranos
Ophionella Bruyns
Orbea Haw.
Orbeanthus L.C.Leach
Orthanthera Wight
Pectinaria Haw.
Pentasacme Wall.
Piaranthus R.Br.
Pseudolithos P.R.O.Bally
Quaqua N.E.Br.
Rhytidocaulon P.R.O.Bally
Richtersveldia Meve
Riocreuxia Decne.
Sisyranthus E.Mey.
Socotrella Bruyns
Stapelia L.
Stapelianthus Choux
Stapeliopsis Pillans
Tavaresia Welw.
Tridentea Haw.
Tromotriche Haw.
Whitesloanea Chiov.

Eustegieae
Eustegia K.Schum. & Schltr.
Emicocarpus R.Br.

Fockeeae
Cibirhiza Bruyns
Fockea Endl.

Marsdenieae

Anatropanthus Schltr.
Anisopus N.E.Br.
Asterostemma Decne.
Campestigma Pierre
Cathetostemma Blume
Cionura Griseb.
Cosmostigma Wight
Dischidia R.Br.
Dolichopetalum Tsiang
Gongronema (Endl.)
Gunnessia P.I.Forst.
Gymnema R.Br.
Heynella Backer
Hoya R.Br.
Jasminanthes Blume
Lygisma Hook.f.
Marsdenia R.Br.
Oreosparte Schltr.
Pycnorhachis Benth.
Rhyssolobium E.Mey.
Sarcolobus Thouars
Stephanotis Schltr.
Stigmatorhynchus Coville
Telosma Hook.f.
Treutlera Hassk.
Wattakaka

Other genera
These genera are not accepted within Asclepiadoideae by Endress et al. (2014), but many were recognized in Endress & Bruyns (2000).

Clemensiella
Corollonema
Cyathostelma
Dalzielia
Decanema
Dischidanthus
Dregea
Gymnemopsis
Kerbera
Leichhardtia
Lhotzkyella
Manothrix
Microdactylon
Mitostigma
Oncostemma
Periglossum
Petopentia
Polystemma
Ptycanthera
Quisumbingia
Rhyncharrhena
Ruehssia
Schistonema
Tetraphysa
Trichosacme
Vailia

References

External links

Stapeliads.info
Field Manual for Seed Collectors,Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Asclepiad info from ig-ascleps.org
Asclepiadaceae Family
The Genera of Asclepiadoideae, Secamonoideae and Periplocoideae (Apocynaceae)
Asclepiadaceae in BoDD – Botanical Dermatology Database

 
Gentianales subfamilies