Presented in Association with the Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Apocynaceae (Dogbane and Milkweed Family)
The Apocynaceae have 5 connate (united) petals, 5 connate sepals, and the ovary consists
of two separate carpels. The fruit matures as a follicle, opening by a seam on one side. They have
opposite leaves and milky sap.
The Asclepiadaceae has been moved into the Apocynaceae. They are small colorful herbs, sometimes viney, usually with milky sap.
The flowers have a set of 5 hoodlike structures forming a corona, which looks like an extra set
of thickened, rolled petals. The fruit is a follicle. Inside the follicle are seeds with
whitish hairs.