Jump to content

Cynanchum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Runawayangel (talk | contribs) at 17:45, 26 August 2018 (→External linkss). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Cynanchum
In the foreground, Cynanchum aphyllum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Gentianales
Family:
Apocynaceae
Subfamily:
Asclepiadoideae
Genus:
Cynanchum

Species

About 300, see text.

Synonyms[1]
  • Alexitoxicon St.-Lag.
  • Antitoxicum Pobed.
  • Cyathella Decne.
  • Cynanchum bricenoi Morillo
  • Cynoctonum E. Mey.
  • Decanema Decne.
  • Decanemopsis Costantin & Gallaud
  • Drepanostemma Jum. & H. Perrier
  • Exostegia Bojer ex Decne.
  • Folotsia Costantin & Bois
  • Karimbolea Desc.
  • Mahafalia Jum. & H. Perrier
  • Mellichampia A. Gray
  • Nematostemma Choux
  • Platykeleba N.E. Br.
  • Prosopostelma Baill.
  • Pycnoneurum Decne.
  • Pycnostelma Bunge ex Decne.
  • Rhodostegiella (Pobed.) C.Y. Wu & D.Z. Li
  • Roulinia Decne.
  • Rouliniella Vail
  • Sarcocyphula Harv.
  • Seutera Rchb.
  • Symphyoglossum Turcz.
  • Vincetoxicum Wolf
  • Voharanga Costantin & Bois
  • Vohemaria Buchenau

Cynanchum is a genus of about 300 species including some swallowworts, belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The taxon name comes from Greek kynos (meaning "dog") and anchein ("to choke"), hence the common name for several species is dog-strangling vine. Most species are non-succulent climbers or twiners. There is some evidence of toxicity.[2]

Morphology

These plants are perennial herbs or subshrubs, often growing from rhizomes. The leaves are usually oppositely arranged and sometimes are borne on petioles. The inflorescences and flowers come in a variety of shapes.

Like other species of the milkweed family, these plants bear follicles, which are podlike dry fruits.

Distribution

These species are found throughout the tropics and subtropics. Several species also grow in temperate regions.

Importance

The root of Cynanchum atratum is used in Chinese traditional medicine and called Bai wei. Several other species had traditional Chinese medicinal uses.

Cynanchum louiseae (black swallowwort) and Cynanchum rossicum (pale swallowwort) are troublesome noxious weeds in parts of North America.[3][4]

Classification

Cynanchum as defined in the late 20th century (to include about 400 species) is polyphyletic and is being broken up. Species are being moved to genera including Orthosia, Pentarrhinum, and Vincetoxicum, with a group of mostly Old World species staying in Cynanchum.[5][6]

Species

Species include:[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Tropicos.org". Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  2. ^ "Plants for a Future Database".
  3. ^ NPS Alien Plants Fact Sheet
  4. ^ Krishna Ramanujan (2014) "Invasive vines swallow up New York’s natural areas." Cornell Chronicle, April 23, 2014.
  5. ^ Alan S. Weakley (April 2008). "Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and Surrounding Areas".
  6. ^ Sigrid Liede and Angelika Tauber (Oct–Dec 2002). "Circumscription of the Genus Cynanchum (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae)". Systematic Botany. 27 (4): 789–800. JSTOR 3093924.
  7. ^ Bussmann R. W.; et al. (2006). "Plant use of the Maasai of Sekenani Valley, Maasai Mara, Kenya". J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2: 22. doi:10.1186/1746-4269-2-22. PMC 1475560. PMID 16674830. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cynanchum&oldid=856643606"