Apocynaceae

Catharanthus G.Don

First published in Gen. Hist. 4: 95 (1837)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Madagascar, Indian Subcontinent.

Descriptions

Apocynaceae, A. J. M. Leeuwenberg & F. K. Kupicha et al. Flora Zambesiaca 7:2. 1985

Morphology General Habit
Herbs, perennial or annual, often woody at the base, branched to a varying degree.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves herbaceous to thinly coriaceous, opposite, mucronate, with a fringe or intra- and interpetiolar colleters.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences terminal, but apparently lateral due to pseudomonopodial continuation of the stem by alternating development of one of the axillary buds of the apical pair of leaves, 1–2-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers actinomorphic.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals narrowly to very narrowly oblong, subulate, eglandular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla purple, red, pink, or white, hypocrateriform; tube laxly puberulous or glabrous, constricted and woolly to velvety at the throat; lobes spreading, obliquely obovate, spiculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens inserted at the widest portion of the corolla-tube (usually above the middle); anthers oblong obtuse at the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary of two very narrowly oblong carpels; disk composed of two narrowly triangular to narrowly oblong glands, the bases of which touch each other at the abaxial sides of the carpels; style filiform; clavuncula cylindrical, at the base provided with a reflexed hyaline frill; ovules numerous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit composed of two follicles; follicles cylindrical, acute.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed black, oblong; testa rugose; hilum lateral; cotyledons flat, shorter than the radicle; endosperm scanty.
[FZ]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Perennial or annual herbs or subshrubs; latex white
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite; stipules filiform
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers in 1–2-flowered terminal or seemingly axillary inflorescences
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx with narrow lobes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla salver-shaped; lobes mostly obliquely obovate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona
Corona absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens usually inserted above the middle of the corolla-tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary of 2 free narrowly oblong carpels; style with cylindrical head
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit of 2 cylindrical follicles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds oblong, without a tuft of hairs at one end.
Distribution
Genus of nine species, two in India, one of those in Sri Lanka, the others on Madagascar.
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0