dogbane family

dogbane family
the plant family Apocynaceae, characterized by shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants having milky and often poisonous juice, simple opposite leaves, often showy flowers, and fruit usually in dry pods, and including the dogbane, oleander, periwinkle, and plumeria.

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Family Apocynaceae, of the gentian order, with about 1,000 member species of trees, shrubs, woody vines, and herbaceous plants, found mostly in the tropics and subtropics.

Dogbanes have milky, often poisonous juice and usually clustered, showy flowers. Garden ornamentals include periwinkle, oleander, yellow oleander (Thevetia), frangipani, Natal plum (Carissa), and crepe jasmine (Tabernaemontana coronaria). Some species are African succulents. Arrow poisons are obtained from many dogbanes, and the poisonous alkaloids of some species are used in medicines.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • dogbane family — noun chiefly tropical trees or shrubs or herbs having milky juice and often showy flowers; many are sources of drugs • Syn: ↑Apocynaceae, ↑family Apocynaceae • Hypernyms: ↑dicot family, ↑magnoliopsid family • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • dogbane — [dôg′bān΄] adj. [so named because said to be poisonous to dogs] designating a family (Apocynaceae, order Gentianales) of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs, and trees, including frangipani and periwinkle n. any of a genus (Apocynum) of sometimes… …   English World dictionary

  • dogbane — noun Date: 1597 any of a genus (Apocynum of the family Apocynaceae, the dogbane family) of often poisonous plants chiefly of temperate zone regions with milky juice and fibrous bark …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • family — /fam euh lee, fam lee/, n., pl. families, adj. n. 1. parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not. 2. the children of one person or one couple collectively: We want a large family. 3. the spouse and children …   Universalium

  • dogbane — noun Any species of genus Apocynum, eponymous of the dogbane family Apocynaceae Most dogbanes are poisonous tropical plants producing showy flowers and milky juice …   Wiktionary

  • family Apocynaceae — noun chiefly tropical trees or shrubs or herbs having milky juice and often showy flowers; many are sources of drugs • Syn: ↑Apocynaceae, ↑dogbane family • Hypernyms: ↑dicot family, ↑magnoliopsid family • Member Holonyms: ↑Gentiana …   Useful english dictionary

  • dogbane beetle — ▪ insect       (species Chrysochus auratus), member of the insect subfamily Eumolpinae of the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae (order Coleoptera). The dogbane beetle of eastern North America is iridescent blue green with a metallic copper, golden …   Universalium

  • List of trees and shrubs by taxonomic family — The following is a list of trees and shrubs of high notoriety. Taxonomic families for the following trees and shrubs are listed in alphabetical order, likewise the genera and closely related species.=GYMNOSPERMS= =CONIFERS= Araucariaceae: The… …   Wikipedia

  • dicot family — noun family of flowering plants having two cotyledons (embryonic leaves) in the seed which usually appear at germination • Syn: ↑magnoliopsid family • Hypernyms: ↑family • Hyponyms: ↑magnoliid dicot family, ↑hamamelid dicot family, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • magnoliopsid family — noun family of flowering plants having two cotyledons (embryonic leaves) in the seed which usually appear at germination • Syn: ↑dicot family • Hypernyms: ↑family • Hyponyms: ↑magnoliid dicot family, ↑hamamelid dicot family, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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