Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) on 7-1-18, #467-3.
Apocynaceae Juss.
a-pos-ih-NAY-see-ee
OR
a-pos-ih-NAY-see-eye
The plant family Apocynaceae was named and described by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in Genera Plantarum in 1789.
All the plants I have grown or that are wildflowers on the farm that were members of the plant family Asclepiadoideae (the Milkweed Family) are now members of Apocynaceae. Strangely, Huernia and Stapelia are in the same family as Asclepias. Of course, there are many genera of succulents, perennials, and trees (ETC.) in this HUGE family… I suppose they have a few things in common we can’t see at a glance.
As of 11-14-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online listed 376 genera in the plant family Apocynaceae. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.
I am familiar with a few species in this family. You can click on the plant names under the photos to go to their own pages. I usually take more photos every year.
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE
WIKIPEDIA
BRITANNICA
Apocynum cannabinum (Hemp Dogbane) on 6-14-20, #710-7.
I found my first Apocynum cannabinum (Hemp Dogbane) in the main hayfield in 2020 but since then it has ventured… In 2021, I noticed a large patch in the south hayfield. It is also growing in the ditch along the street in front of the garden and front pasture. A friend sent a photo of a big patch of weeds in a pasture for me to identify… It was this species. I would say the Hemp Dogbane could get out of hand if the conditions are right.
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Asclepias hirtella (Prairie Milkweed) on 8-3-13, #168-3.
There are always Asclepias hirtella (Prairie Milkweed) hit-and-miss in the main hayfield. This species will rebloom after the hay is cut.
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Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed) on 6-8-23, #945-4.
Even though the summer of 2023 was very hot and dry, I still managed to find a few new species on the farm including Asclepias purpurascens (Purple Milkweed). I only found one plant, but I could tell even at a distance it was one I hadn’t seen before from its bright reddish-purple flowers. NICE! I don’t have a page for this species yet.
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Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) on 6-16-21, #801-21.
There are quite a few Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) on the farm. They can grow quite tall. I was finally able to take photos of the flowers on June 16, 2021.
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Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) on 7-1-18, #467-1.
I don’t have any Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed) growing on my farm but there are several along back roads and highways. I brought seeds home in 2020 but I haven’t planted them yet…
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Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed) on 5-30-19, #578-2.
I didn’t have any Asclepias viridis (Green Milkweed) growing on my farm but I was able to identify them on a friend’s farm in 2019. Then in 2022, I found a single specimen on my farm.
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Cynanchum laeve (Honey-Vine Climbing Milkweed) on 6-26-22, #901-1.
I first found the Cynanchum laeve (Honey-Vine Climbing Milkweed) growing on the sweet corn in 2021. I didn’t get very good photos, so I was glad I found them along the ditch on the iris in 2022. Some websites and databases use the scientific name Cyananchum laeve which Plants of the World Online says is a synonym. Other common names include Sand Vine, Honey Vine, Blue Vine Milkweed, Honeyvine Milkweed, and possibly others. I just thought it was weird to have climbing milkweed… I had been using the name Ampelamus laevis, but that name is now a synonym.
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Dischidia sp. ‘Geri’ (Ant Plant) on 8-25-12, #116-21.
Well, I brought this Dischidia sp. ‘Geri’ (Ant Plant) home while I was living in Mississippi. It was fine for a while then fizzled out…
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Huernia schneideriana (Dragon Flower, Carrion Plant) on 10-11-19, #639-43.
The Huernia schneideriana (Dragon Flower, ETC.) has been a great plant. I have really enjoyed watching it grow.
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Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower) at 13″ wide on 10-23-21, #850-8.
I ordered my Stapelia gigantea (Zulu Giant, Starfish Flower, etc.) from a seller on Ebay in 2018. It grew buds in 2019 and 2020 but they would fall off when I brought the pot inside for the winter. I decided to keep the plant on the back porch in 2021 and maybe when I moved it inside the light wouldn’t change so much. Well, we had a late “F” so the plant stayed outside longer. FINALLY, it bloomed! It bloomed again in 2022, and even more in 2023…
That’s all I have for now in this family of plants. Never know what I will run across…
The Belmont Rooster 