1. Dr. B. KARUNAI SELVI
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BOTANY
V.V.VANNIAPERUMAL COLLEGE FOR
WOMEN
VIRUDHUNAGAR- 626 001
TAMIL NADU, INDIA
karunaiselvi@vvvcollege.org
APOCYNACEAE
3. Oleander family
180 genera and 1500 species
84 species or 30 genera are present
in India.
Distriubution
Abundant in tropics and sub-tropics
Few are temperate
DISTRIBUTION OF APOCYNACEAE
10. Corolla:
Petals 5
Gamopetalous
forming a corolla
tube which may be
long or short
Corona present (hairy
scales or outgrowth)
twisted/ imbricate/
valvate
Catharanthus
FLORAL CHARACTERS
11. Corolla:
Petals 5
Gamopetalous
forming a corolla
tube which may be
long or short
Corona present (hairy
scales or outgrowth)
twisted/ imbricate/
valvate
FLORAL CHARACTERS
Tecoma stans
12. Androecium:
Stamens 4 to 5
Epipetalous
Alternating with petals
Filament - short, free
Anthers - dithecous,
connate to stigma
Dehiscing
longitudinally
Introrse
Polyandrous
FLORAL CHARACTERS
Thevetia nerifolia
13. Gynoecium
Bicarpellary
Syncarpous ovaries are free
below but united by style
only, superior
style short, enclosed in a
tube formed by the corolla;
stigma thickened distally
ovaries are free each ovary
is unilocular with marginal
placentation but when
ovaries are fused then axile
placentation.
FLORAL CHARACTERS
Wrightia
15. Vegetables
The pulpy fruits of Carissa carandus are edible
and also pickled.
Medicinal
The root of Rauwolfia serpentina are used in
lowering blood pressure, sedative, stimulator for
uterine contraction and in mental diseases. The
juice of leaves is used for removal of opacities of
the cornea of the eyes.
Anti-cancerous drugs are extracted from
Catharanthus roseus.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
16. Rubber
Many species of Hancora, Dyera, Urceola are
the sources of rubber.
Poisonous
The seeds of Thevetia contain Thevetine a
poisonous glycoside. The latex of Acokanthera is
used for poisoning arrows. The bark and wood of
Nerium indicum provide rat-poison.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE