Asclepiadaceae

Asclepiadaceae 

In New South Wales Asclepiadaceae is now included within Apocynaceae. Elsewhere they are 

recognised as separate (but closely related) families. 

ARAUJIA Brot. 

Physianthus Mart. 

Araujia sericifera Brot. 

Araujia albens (Mart.) G.Don 

Araujia hortorum E.Fourn. 

Araujia sericofera Brot, orth. var. 

Physianthus albens Mart. 

WA (naturalised), SA (naturalised), Qld (naturalised), NSW (naturalised), ACT 

(naturalised), Vic (naturalised) 

ASCLEPIAS L. 

Asclepias curassavica L. 

WA (naturalised), NT (naturalised), SA (naturalised), Qld (naturalised), NSW 

(naturalised), Vic (naturalised) 

BRACHYSTELMA Sims, nom. cons. 

Microstemma R.Br., nom. rej. 

Brachystelma glabriflorum (F.Muell.) Schltr. 

Brachystelma microstemma Schltr. 

Microstemma glabriflorum F.Muell. 

Microstemma tuberosum R.Br. 

WA, NT, Qld 

CALOTROPIS R.Br. 

Calotropis gigantea (L.) W.T.Aiton 

Asclepias gigantea L. 

WA (naturalised), NT (naturalised), Qld (naturalised) 

Calotropis procera (Aiton) R.Br. ex W.T.Aiton 

Asclepias gigantea auct. non L.: N.J.Jacquin, Observ. Bot. 3: t. 69 (1768) 

Asclepias procera Aiton 

WA (naturalised), NT (naturalised), SA (naturalised), Qld (naturalised) 

CEROPEGIA L. 

Ceropegia cumingiana Decne. 

Ceropegia cumingiana Decne. subsp. cumingiana 

Ceropegia cumingiana subsp. horsfieldiana (Miq.) H.Huber 

Ceropegia horsfieldiana Miq. 

Ceropegia papuana Schltr. 

Huber (1957) recognised (only) C. cumingiana subsp. horsfieldiana for Australia, but Bruyns & 

Forster (1989) stated that the subspecific ranks were too imprecise to recognise. 

Qld 

CRYPTOSTEGIA R.Br.

Cryptostegia grandiflora Roxb. ex R.Br. 

Nerium grandiflorum Roxb., nom. illeg. 

Recorded in Flora of Australia for NT, but now considered not to occur there. 

Qld (naturalised) 

Cryptostegia madagascariensis Bojer ex Decne. 

WA (naturalised), NT (naturalised), Qld (sparingly naturalised) 

Cryptostegia madagascariensis Bojer ex Decne. var. madagascariensis 

NT (naturalised) 

Cryptostegia madagascariensis var. glaberrima (Hochr.) J.Marohasy & P.I.Forst. 

Cryptostegia glaberrima Hochr. 

WA (naturalised), NT (naturalised), Qld (sparingly naturalised) 

CYNANCHUM L. 

Cyathella Decne. 

Cynoctonum E.Mey. 

Vincetoxicum Wolf 

Cynanchum bowmanii S.T.Blake 

Cynanchum ovatum (Benth.) Domin, nom. illeg. 

Vincetoxicum ovatum Benth. 

Qld 

Cynanchum brachystelmoides P.I.Forst. 

Vincetoxicum brachystemoides (P.I.Forst.) S.Leide 

NT, Qld 

Cynanchum carnosum (R.Br.) Schltr. 

Cynanchum carnosum (R.Br.) Domin, nom. superfl. 

Ichnostemma carnosum (R.Br.) Merr. & Rolfe 

Oxystelma carnosum R.Br. 

Vincetoxicum carnosum (R.Br.) Benth. 

Treated as Vincetoxicum carnosum in Liede, Blumea 44: 492 (1999) but this transfer not taken up in 

Australia. 

WA, NT, Qld, NSW 

Cynanchum christineae P.I.Forst. 

Vincetoxicum christineae (P.I.Forst.) S.Leide 

WA, NT 

Cynanchum elegans (Benth.) Domin 

Vincetoxicum elegans Benth. 

NSW 

Cynanchum floribundum R.Br. 

Cynoctonum floribundum (R.Br.) Decne. 

Schizocorona floribunda (R.Br.) F.Muell. 

Vincetoxicum floribundum (R.Br.) Kuntze 

WA, NT, SA, Qld, NSW 

Cynanchum leptolepis (Benth.) Domin 

Vincetoxicum leptolepis Benth. 

NT, Qld 

Cynanchum liebianum (F.Muell.) P.I.Forst. 

Tylophora liebiana F.Muell. 

NT

Cynanchum ovalifolium Wight 

Cynoctonum ovalifolium (Wight) Decne. 

Qld 

Cynanchum pedunculatum R.Br. 

Cynanchum brownianum Schult., nom. illeg. 

Cynanchum erubescens R.Br. 

Cynoctonum erubescens (R.Br.) Decne. 

Cynoctonum pedunculatum (R.Br.) Decne. 

Vincetoxicum erubescens (R.Br.) Kuntze 

Vincetoxicum pedunculatum (R.Br.) Kuntze 

WA, NT, Qld 

Cynanchum puberulum F.Muell. ex Benth. 

Vincetoxicum puberulum (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Kuntze 

WA, NT 

Cynanchum sp. Hamersley (M. Trudgen 2302) WA Herbarium 

WA 

DISCHIDIA R.Br. 

Dischidia litoralis Schltr. 

Dischidia littoralis Schltr., orth. var. 

Qld 

Dischidia major (Vahl) Merr. 

Collyris major Vahl 

Dischidia baeuerlenii Schltr. 

Dischidia rafflesiana Wall. 

Dischidia timorensis Decne. 

Dischidia timoriensis Chapman, orth. var. 

Qld 

Dischidia nummularia R.Br. 

Qld 

Dischidia ovata Benth. 

Qld 

FINLAYSONIA Wall. 

Finlaysonia obovata Wall. 

NT, Qld 

GOMPHOCARPUS R.Br. 

Gomphocarpus cancellatus (Burm.f.) Bruyns 

Asclepias arborescens L. 

Asclepias cancellata Burm.f. 

Asclepias rotundifolia Mill. 

Gomphocarpus arborescens (L.) R.Br. 

SA (naturalised), Vic (naturalised) 

Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) W.T.Aiton 

Asclepias fruticosa L.

Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) R.Br. (1811), nom. inval. 

The combination G. fruticosus (L.) R.Br. ex Spreng. listed in Chapman, APNI 1429 (1991) should be 

treated as merely usage of Aiton's existing name and not a new illegitimate later homonym. The Vic 

and Tas populations are treated as G. fruticosus subsp. fruticosus. Hybrid swarms between G. 

fruticosus and G. physocarpus are common. 

WA (naturalised), SA (naturalised), Qld (naturalised), NSW (naturalised), LHI 

(doubtfully naturalised), Vic (naturalised), Tas (naturalised) 

Gomphocarpus physocarpus E.Mey. 

Asclepias physocarpa (E.Mey.) Schltr. 

Gomphocarpus brasiliensis auct. non Fourn.: F.M.Bailey, Queensland Fl. 3: 998 (1900) 

Hybrid swarms between G. fruticosus and G. physocarpus are common. 

WA (naturalised), SA (naturalised), Qld (naturalised), NSW (naturalised), LHI 

(naturalised) 

GUNNESSIA P.I.Forst. 

Gunnessia pepo P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

GYMNANTHERA R.Br. 

Gymnanthera cunninghamii (Benth.) P.I.Forst. 

Gymnanthera fruticosa K.L.Wilson 

Wrightia cunninghamii Benth. 

WA, NT, Qld 

Gymnanthera oblonga (Burm.f.) P.S.Green 

Gymnanthera nitida R.Br. 

Jasminum oblongum Burm.f. 

WA, NT, Qld 

HETEROSTEMMA Wight & Arn. 

Heterostemma acuminatum Decne. 

Tylophora calcarata Benth. 

Vincetoxicum calcaratum (Benth.) Kuntze 

Qld 

Heterostemma magnificum P.I.Forst. 

NT 

HOYA R.Br. 

Hoya aldrichii Hemsl. 

ChI 

Hoya anulata Schltr. 

Hoya alata K.D.Hill 

Hoya gracilipes auct. non Schltr.: D.L.Jones & B.Gray, Climbing Pl. Austral. 242 (1988); 

M.B.Thomas & W.J.F.McDonald, Rare & Threatened Pl. Queensland 18 (1989) 

Hoya pseudolittoralis C.Norman 

Qld 

Hoya australis R.Br. ex Traill 

WA, NT, Qld, NSW

Hoya australis R.Br. ex Traill subsp. australis 

Hoya dalrympleana F.Muell. 

Hoya keysii F.M.Bailey 

Hoya oligotricha K.D.Hill 

Hoya oligotricha K.D.Hill subsp. oligotricha 

In Flora of Australia H. oligotricha was treated as a synonym of H. australis following Forster & 

Liddle (1990, 1991). In Fl. New South Wales they are treated as distinct, following Hill (1988). 

Qld, NSW 

Hoya australis subsp. oramicola P.I.Forst. & Liddle 

NT 

Hoya australis subsp. rupicola (K.D.Hill) P.I.Forst. & Liddle 

Hoya rupicola K.D.Hill 

This taxon is treated as a distinct species, H. rupicola, by botanists in NSW 

WA, NT 

Hoya australis subsp. sanae (F.M.Bailey) K.D.Hill 

Hoya sana F.M.Bailey, orth. var. 

Hoya sanae F.M.Bailey 

Qld 

Hoya australis subsp. tenuipes (K.D.Hill) P.I.Forst. & Liddle 

Hoya oligotricha subsp. tenuipes K.D.Hill 

Qld 

Hoya macgillivrayi F.M.Bailey 

Qld 

Hoya pottsii Traill 

Hoya nicholsoniae F.Muell. 

Qld 

Hoya revoluta Wight ex Hook.f. 

Hoya litoralis Schltr. 

Qld 

Hoya serpens Hook.f. 

Qld (sparingly naturalised) 

Hoya sussuela (Roxb.) Merr. 

Asclepias sussuela Roxb. 

Hoya lauterbachii auct. non K.Schum.: P.I.Forster & D.J.Liddle, Austrobaileya 3: 220 (1990) 

Hoya rubida auct. non Schltr.: D.L.Jones & B.Gray, Austral. Cimbing Pl. 126-127 (1977) 

Qld 

MARSDENIA R.Br. nom. cons. 

Baxtera Rchb., nom. rej. 

Bidaria (Endl.) Decne. 

Gymnema R.Br. 

Gymnema sect. Bidaria Endl. 

Leichardtia R.Br. 

Leichhardtia Benth., orth. var, nom. inval. pro syn. 

Stephanotis Thouars, nom. rej. 

Thozetia F.Muell. ex Benth. 

Gymnema is here included in Marsdenia, but some, (e.g. Omlor, in thesis, 1998, see http://www.unibayreuth.de/departments/planta2/research_wgl/tribes/triblist.html) 

suggest that it should be considered 

distinct.

Marsdenia angustata P.I.Forst. 

Bidaria erecta F.Muell. 

Gymnema stenophyllum auct. non A.Gray: G.Bentham, Fl. Austral. 4: 344 (1868) 

WA, NT 

Marsdenia araujacea F.Muell. 

Cynanchum pachylepis (F.M.Bailey) Domin 

Vincetoxicum pachylepis F.M.Bailey 

Qld (presumed extinct) 

Marsdenia australis (R.Br.) Druce 

Leichardtia australis R.Br. 

Marsdenia leichhardtiana F.Muell., nom. superfl. 

WA, NT, SA, Qld, NSW, Vic 

Marsdenia brevifolia (Benth.) P.I.Forst. 

Gymnema brevifolium Benth. 

Qld 

Marsdenia brevis P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

Marsdenia connivens P.I.Forst. 

NT, Qld 

Marsdenia coronata Benth. 

Qld 

Marsdenia cymulosa Benth. 

Marsdenia fragrans Domin 

Marsdenia rhyncholepis F.Muell. 

Qld 

Marsdenia flavescens A.Cunn. ex Hook. 

Qld, NSW, Vic 

Marsdenia fraseri Benth. 

Qld, NSW 

Marsdenia geminata (R.Br.) P.I.Forst. 

Gymnema geminatum R.Br. 

Gymnema sylvestre auct. non (Retz.) R.Br. ex Schult.: G.Bentham, Fl. Austral. 4: 342 (1868); 

F.M.Bailey, Queensland Fl. 3: 103-104 (1900) 

WA, NT, Qld 

Marsdenia glandulifera C.T.White 

WA, NT, Qld 

Marsdenia graniticola P.I.Forst. 

WA 

Marsdenia hemiptera Rchb. 

Thozetia racemosa F.Muell. ex Benth. 

Treated as Thozetia racemosa in NSW. 


Marsdenia jensenii P.I.Forst. 

Qld

Marsdenia liisae J.B.Williams 

NSW 

Marsdenia lloydii P.I.Forst. 

Marsdenia suberosa S.T.Blake, nom. illeg. 

Qld, NSW 

Marsdenia longiloba Benth. 

Qld, NSW 

Marsdenia longipedicellata P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

Marsdenia micradenia (Benth.) P.I.Forst. 

Gongronema micradenia (Benth.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex F.Muell. 

Gymnema micradenia Benth., orth. var. 

Gymnema micradenium Benth. 

Qld 

Marsdenia microlepis Benth. 

Hybrids are known in Qld between M. microlepis and M. viridiflora. 

Qld 

Marsdenia muelleri (Benth.) P.I.Forst. 

Gymnema muelleri Benth. 

Qld, NT 

Marsdenia paludicola P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

Marsdenia pleiadenia (F.Muell.) P.I.Forst. 

Gymnema dunnii (Maiden & Betche) P.I.Forst. 

Gymnema pleiadenium F.Muell. 

Gymnema sp. A sensu S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Pickard, Pl. New South Wales 70 (1981) 

Marsdenia rostrata var. dunnii Maiden & Betche 

WA, Qld, NSW 

Marsdenia pumila P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

Marsdenia rara P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

Marsdenia rostrata R.Br. 

Marsdenia rostrata R.Br. var. rostrata 

Pergularia rostrata (R.Br.) Spreng. 

Qld, NSW, LHI, Vic 

Marsdenia sp. Silver Plains (P.I.Forster PIF 17005) Qld Herbarium 

Qld 

Marsdenia straminea P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

Marsdenia suaveolens R.Br. 

Pergularia suaveolens (R.Br.) Spreng. 

NSW 

Marsdenia suborbicularis (K.Schum.) P.I.Forst. 

Gymnema suborbiculare K.Schum.

Qld 

Marsdenia tricholepis (Schltr.) P.I.Forst. 

Gymnema tricholepis Schltr. 

Qld 

Marsdenia trinervis (R.Br.) P.I.Forst. 

Bidaria trinervis (R.Br.) Decne. 

Gymnema trinerve R.Br. 

WA, NT 

Marsdenia tubulosa F.Muell. 

LHI 

Marsdenia velutina R.Br. 

Pergularia velutina (R.Br.) Spreng. 

Tylophora velutina (R.Br.) G.Don 

WA, NT, Qld 

Marsdenia viridiflora R.Br. 

Bidaria leptophylla F.Muell. 

Leichardtia leptophylla (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Bullock 

Marsdenia leptophylla F.Muell. ex Benth. 

Pergularia viridiflora (R.Br.) Spreng. 

Hybrids are known in Qld between M. microlepis and M. viridiflora. 


Marsdenia viridiflora subsp. tropica P.I.Forst. 

WA, NT, Qld 

Marsdenia viridiflora R.Br. subsp. viridiflora 

Qld, NSW 

ORBEA Haw. 

Diplocyatha N.E.Br. 

Stultitia E.Phillips 

Orbea variegata (L.) Haw. 

Stapelia variegata L. 

WA (naturalised), SA (naturalised), Qld (sparingly naturalised) 

OXYPETALUM R.Br. nom. cons. 

Oxypetalum coeruleum (D.Don) Decne. 

Tweedia coerulea D.Don 

Tweedia versicolor Hook. 

Qld (naturalised), NSW (naturalised), Vic (sparingly naturalised) 

PHYLLANTHERA Blume 

Phyllanthera grayi (P.I.Forst.) Venter 

Cryptolepis grayi P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

RHYNCHARRHENA F.Muell. 

Rhynchanthera Benth., orth. var.

Rhyncharrhena linearis (Decne.) K.L.Wilson 

Daemia atropurpurea F.Muell., orth. var. 

Daemia kempeana F.Muell., orth. var. 

Daemia linearis F.Muell., orth. var. 

Daemia quinquepartita F.Muell., orth. var. 

Doemia atropurpurea (F.Muell.) F.Muell. 

Doemia kempeana (F.Muell.) F.Muell. 

Doemia linearis (Decne.) F.Muell. 

Doemia quinquepartita (F.Muell.) F.Muell. 

Pentatropis atropurpurea (F.Muell.) Benth. 

Pentatropis kempeana F.Muell. 

Pentatropis linearis Decne. 

Pentatropis quinquepartita (F.Muell.) Benth. 

Rhyncharrhena atropurpurea F.Muell. 

Rhyncharrhena quinquepartita F.Muell. 

WA, NT, SA, Qld, NSW, Vic 

SARCOLOBUS R.Br. 

Sarcolobus hullsii (F.Muell. ex Benth.) P.I.Forst. 

Marsdenia hullsii F.Muell. ex Benth. 

Tylophora sp. sensu D.L.Jones & B.Gray, Climbing Pl. Australia 352 356 (1988). 

NT, Qld 

Sarcolobus ritae P.I.Forst. 

NT 

Sarcolobus vittatus P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

SARCOSTEMMA R.Br. 

Oxystelma R.Br. 

Sarcostemma brevipedicellatum P.I.Forst. 

WA, NT, Qld 

Sarcostemma esculentum (L.f.) R.W.Holm 

Marsdenia brockmaniana W.Fitzg. 

Oxystelma esculentum (L.f.) R.Br. ex Schult. 

Periploca esculenta L.f. 

WA, NT 

Sarcostemma viminale (L.) R.Br. 

Cynanchum viminale (L.) L. 

Euphorbia viminale L. 

In NSW this taxon is treated as two distinct species, S. australe and S. brunonianum. In Flora of 

Australia a broader concept of S. viminale was adopted. S. viminale subsp. viminale is not in Australia. 


Sarcostemma viminale subsp. australe (R.Br.) P.I.Forst. 

Sarcostemma australe R.Br. 

This taxon is treated as a distinct species, S. australe, in NSW 


Sarcostemma viminale subsp. brunonianum (Wight & Arn.) P.I.Forst. 

Sarcostemma australe subsp. arborea P.I.Forst., ms, nom. inval. 

Sarcostemma brunonianum Wight & Arn.

This taxon is treated as a distinct species, S. brunonianum, in NSW 


SECAMONE R.Br. 

Secamone sect. Toxocarpus (Wight & Arn.) K.Schum. 

Toxocarpus Wight & Arn. 

Secamone auriculata Blume 

Toxocarpus auriculatus (Blume) Decne. 

Qld 

Secamone elliptica R.Br. 

Cynanchum dichasiale O.Schwarz 

Secamone emetica auct. non (Retz.) R.Br. ex Schult.: F.Mueller, Fragm. 5: 161 (1866) 

Secamone ovata R.Br. 

Treated as Secamone elliptica var. elliptica in WA. 


Secamone lineata Blume 

Toxocarpus lineatus (Blume) Boerl. 

Qld 

Secamone timoriensis Decne. 

WA 

STAPELIA L. 

Stapelia gigantea N.E.Br. 

SA (formerly naturalised, now eradicated), Qld (sparingly naturalised), NSW 

(naturalised) 

TYLOPHORA R.Br. 

Hybanthera Endl. 

Tylophora barbata R.Br. 

Hoya barbata (R.Br.) Spreng. 

Vincetoxicum barbatum (R.Br.) Kuntze 

NSW, Vic 

Tylophora benthamii Tsiang 

Tylophora crebriflora S.T.Blake, nom. superfl. 

Tylophora floribunda Benth., nom. illeg. 

Tylophora polyantha Volkens 

Vincetoxicum polyanthum Kuntze 


Tylophora biglandulosa (Endl.) F.Muell. 

Hybanthera biglandulosa Endl. 

Tylophora enervia F.Muell. 

Vincetoxicum carnosum auct. non (R.Br.) Benth.: W.B.Hemsley, Ann. Bot. (London) 10: 244 

(1896); W.R.B.Oliver, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst.. 49: 110 (1917) 

LHI, NI 

Tylophora cinerascens (R.Br.) P.I.Forst. 

Marsdenia cinerascens R.Br. 

Pergularia cinerascens (R.Br.) Spreng. 

WA, NT, Qld

Tylophora colorata C.T.White 

Qld 

Tylophora erecta F.Muell. ex Benth. 

Tylophora macrophylla Benth. 

Tylophora stelligera Schltr. 

Vincetoxicum benthamiana Kuntze 

Vincetoxicum erectum (Benth.) Kuntze 

NT, Qld 

Tylophora flexuosa R.Br. 

Hoya flexuosa (R.Br.) Spreng. 

Vincetoxicum flexuosum (R.Br.) Kuntze 

WA, NT, Qld 

Tylophora grandiflora R.Br. 

Hoya grandiflora (R.Br.) Spreng. 

Vincetoxicum grandiflorum (R.Br.) Kuntze 

Qld, NSW 

Tylophora linearis P.I.Forst. 

Tylophora sp. sensu S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Pickard, Pl. New South Wales 70 (1981) 

Qld, NSW 

Tylophora paniculata R.Br. 

Hoya paniculata (R.Br.) Spreng. 

Vincetoxicum paniculatum (R.Br.) Kuntze 

Qld, NSW 

Tylophora rupicola P.I.Forst. 

Tylophora sp. aff. flexuosa sensu D.L.Jones & B.Gray Austral. Climbing Pl. 258 (1977). 

Qld 

Tylophora williamsii P.I.Forst. 

Qld 

Tylophora woollsii Benth. 

Vincetoxicum woollsii (Benth.) Kuntze 

Qld, NSW

Asclepiadaceae

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