What is the Difference Between Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae?

Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae are both families of flowering plants with some differences and similarities. Apocynaceae, commonly known as the dogbane family, is a large family of angiosperms, mostly herbs or shrubs with latex. Asclepiadaceae, now considered a subfamily of Apocynaceae and known as Asclepiadoideae, is a subfamily of the dogbane family and includes the milkweed family.

Differences between Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae include:

1. Habit: Apocynaceae plants are herbs or shrubs with latex, while Asclepiadaceae plants can be herbs, shrubs, or climbers with latex.
2. Inflorescence: Apocynaceae plants generally have cymose or rarely solitary inflorescences, while Asclepiadaceae plants usually have cymose umbels or sometimes recemose inflorescences.
3. Flower Structure: In Apocynaceae, flowers are complete, hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, and hypogynous. The calyx has 4-5 gamosepalous sepals, and the corolla has 5 gamopetalous petals, infundibuliform, and twisted. In Asclepiadaceae, flowers have the same structure, but the calyx has 5 polysepalous sepals, valvate or contorted, and the corolla has 5 gamopetalous petals, usually with a corona present.
4. Androecium: In Apocynaceae, stamens are 5, polyandrous, epipetalous, and pollinia and translators are absent. In Asclepiadaceae, stamens are 5, adnate to the gynoecium and forming a gynostegium, with pollinia and translators present.

Similarities between Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae include:

1. Both families have bisexual, actinomorphic flowers.
2. Most members are poisonous, but some are cultivated as ornamental plants due to their colorful flowers and foliage.
3. Plants in both families are mainly found in tropics and subtropics.
4. Most members have milky latex.
5. Flowers in both families have five petals, five sepals, and five stamens.

In summary, Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae are both families of flowering plants with some differences in their habit, inflorescence, and flower structure. However, they share similarities in their bisexual, actinomorphic flowers, toxicity, and presence in tropical and subtropical regions.

Comparative Table: Apocynaceae vs Asclepiadaceae

The main differences between Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae can be summarized in the following table:

Despite these differences, both families share some common features, such as producing bisexual, actinomorphic flowers with five petals, five sepals, and five stamens, and having mostly toxic members.