List of Apocynaceae of South Africa

Apocynaceae (from Apocynum, Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants in the order Gentianales that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison. Members of the family are native to the European, Asian, African, Australian, and American tropics or subtropics, with some temperate members. The former family Asclepiadaceae (now known as Asclepiadoideae) is considered a subfamily of Apocynaceae and contains 348 genera. A list of Apocynaceae genera may be found here.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants (33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptogams (408)).

111 genera are represented in the literature. Listed taxa include species, subspecies, varieties, and forms as recorded, some of which have subsequently been allocated to other taxa as synonyms, in which cases the accepted taxon is appended to the listing. Multiple entries under alternative names reflect taxonomic revision over time.

Acokanthera Genus Acokanthera: Acokanthera oblongifolia (Hochst.) Codd, indigenous Acokanthera oppositifolia (Lam.) Codd, indigenous Acokanthera rotundata (Codd) Kupicha, indigenous

Adenium Genus Adenium: Adenium multiflorum Klotzsch, indigenous Adenium oleifolium Stapf, indigenous Adenium swazicum Stapf, indigenous

Ancylobothrys Genus Ancylobothrys: Ancylobothrys capensis (Oliv.) Pichon, indigenous Ancylobothrys petersiana (Klotzsch) Pierre, indigenous

Anisotoma Genus Anisotoma: Anisotoma cordifolia Fenzl, endemic Anisotoma pedunculata N.E.Br. indigenous

Araujia Genus Araujia: Araujia sericifera Brot. not indigenous, naturalised, invasive

Arduina Genus Arduina: Arduina acuminata E.Mey. accepted as Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan, indigenous Arduina bispinosa L. accepted as Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan, indigenous Arduina edulis (Vahl) Spreng. accepted as Carissa spinarum L. indigenous Arduina erythrocarpa Eckl. accepted as Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan, indigenous Arduina ferox E.Mey. accepted as Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan, indigenous Arduina grandiflora E.Mey. accepted as Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A.DC. indigenous Arduina haematocarpa Eckl. accepted as Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan, indigenous Arduina macrocarpa Eckl. accepted as Carissa macrocarpa (Eckl.) A.DC. indigenous Arduina megaphylla Gand. accepted as Carissa bispinosa (L.) Desf. ex Brenan, indigenous Arduina tetramera Sacleux, accepted as Carissa tetramera (Sacleux) Stapf, indigenous

Asclepias Genus Asclepias: Asclepias adscendens (Schltr.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias affinis (Schltr.) Schltr. accepted as Asclepias albens (E.Mey.) Schltr. present Asclepias albens (E.Mey.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias aurea (Schltr.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias bicuspis N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias brevicuspis (E.Mey.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias brevipes (Schltr.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias buchenaviana Schinz, accepted as Gomphocarpus filiformis (E.Mey.) D.Dietr. present Asclepias burchellii Schltr. accepted as Gomphocarpus tomentosus Burch. subsp. tomentosus, present Asclepias cancellata Burm.f. accepted as Gomphocarpus cancellatus (Burm.f.) Bruyns, present Asclepias cognata N.E.Br. accepted as Aspidonepsis cognata (N.E.Br.) Nicholas & Goyder, indigenous Asclepias compressidens (N.E.Br.) Nicholas, endemic Asclepias concinna (Schltr.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias cooperi N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias crassinervis N.E.Br. indigenous Asclepias crinita (G.Bertol.) N.E.Br. accepted as Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) Aiton f. subsp. fruticosus Asclepias crispa P.J.Bergius, indigenous Asclepias crispa P.J.Bergius var. crispa, endemic Asclepias crispa P.J.Bergius var. plana N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias crispa P.J.Bergius var. pseudocrispa N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias cucullata (Schltr.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias cucullata (Schltr.) Schltr. subsp. cucullata, indigenous Asclepias cultriformis (Harv. ex Schltr.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias curassavica L. not indigenous, naturalised Asclepias decipiens N.E.Br. accepted as Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) Aiton f. subsp. decipiens (N.E.Br.) Goyder & Nicholas, present Asclepias densiflora N.E.Br. indigenous Asclepias depressa (Schltr.) Schltr. accepted as Asclepias multicaulis (E.Mey.) Schltr. present Asclepias diploglossa (Turcz.) Druce, accepted as Aspidonepsis diploglossa (Turcz.) Nicholas & Goyder, indigenous Asclepias disparilis N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias dissona N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias dregeana Schltr. var. calceolus (S.Moore) N.E.Br. accepted as Asclepias fulva N.E.Br. indigenous Asclepias dregeana Schltr. var. sordida N.E.Br. accepted as Asclepias fulva N.E.Br. present Asclepias eminens (Harv.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias expansa (E.Mey.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias fallax (Schltr.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias filiformis (E.Mey.) Benth. & Hook. ex Kuntze, accepted as Gomphocarpus filiformis (E.Mey.) D.Dietr. indigenous Asclepias flava N.E.Br. accepted as Aspidonepsis flava (N.E.Br.) Nicholas & Goyder, indigenous Asclepias flexuosa (E.Mey.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias fruticosa L. accepted as Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) Aiton f. subsp. fruticosus, present Asclepias fulva N.E.Br. indigenous Asclepias gibba (E.Mey.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias gibba (E.Mey.) Schltr. var. gibba, indigenous Asclepias gibba (E.Mey.) Schltr. var. media N.E.Br. indigenous Asclepias glaucophylla (Schltr.) Schltr. accepted as Gomphocarpus glaucophyllus Schltr. present Asclepias gordon-grayae Nicholas, endemic Asclepias hastata (E.Mey.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias humilis (E.Mey.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias macropus (Schltr.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias meliodora (Schltr.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias meliodora (Schltr.) Schltr. var. brevicoronata N.E.Br. accepted as Asclepias meliodora (Schltr.) Schltr. present Asclepias meyeriana (Schltr.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias montevaga M.Glen, Nicholas & Bester, indigenous Asclepias monticola N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias multicaulis (E.Mey.) Schltr. indigenous Asclepias multiflora (Decne.) N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias nana I.Verd. endemic Asclepias navicularis (E.Mey.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias oreophila Nicholas, indigenous Asclepias patens N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias peltigera (E.Mey.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias physocarpa (E.Mey.) Schltr. accepted as Gomphocarpus physocarpus E.Mey. present Asclepias praemorsa Schltr. endemic Asclepias pulchella (Decne.) N.E.Br. accepted as Asclepias ameliae S.Moore, present Asclepias rara N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias reenensis N.E.Br. accepted as Aspidonepsis reenensis (N.E.Br.) Nicholas & Goyder, indigenous Asclepias rivularis (Schltr.) Schltr. accepted as Gomphocarpus rivularis Schltr. present Asclepias rostrata N.E.Br. accepted as Gomphocarpus fruticosus (L.) Aiton f. subsp. rostratus (N.E.Br.) Goyder & Nicholas Asclepias sabulosa Schltr. accepted as Asclepias crispa P.J.Bergius var. crispa, present Asclepias schizoglossoides Schltr. accepted as Aspidonepsis diploglossa (Turcz.) Nicholas & Goyder, indigenous Asclepias schlechteri (K.Schum.) N.E.Br. indigenous Asclepias schweinfurthii N.E.Br. accepted as Pachycarpus lineolatus (Decne.) Bullock Asclepias stellifera Schltr. indigenous Asclepias ulophylla Schltr. endemic Asclepias velutina (Schltr.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias vicaria N.E.Br. endemic Asclepias viridiflora (E.Mey.) Goyder, accepted as Asclepias fulva N.E.Br. present Asclepias woodii (Schltr.) Schltr. endemic Asclepias xysmalobioides Hilliard & B.L.Burtt, accepted as Asclepias montevaga M.Glen, Nicholas & Bester, indigenous

Aspidoglossum Genus Aspidoglossum: Aspidoglossum albocoronatum Bester & Nicholas, endemic Aspidoglossum araneiferum (Schltr.) Kupicha, indigenous Aspidoglossum biflorum E.Mey. indigenous Aspidoglossum carinatum (Schltr.) Kupicha, indigenous Aspidoglossum delagoense (Schltr.) Kupicha, indigenous Aspidoglossum demissum Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum difficile Hilliard, endemic Aspidoglossum dissimile (N.E.Br.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum fasciculare E.Mey. indigenous Aspidoglossum flanaganii (Schltr.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum glabrescens (Schltr.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum glanduliferum (Schltr.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum gracile (E.Mey.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum grandiflorum (Schltr.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum heterophyllum E.Mey. endemic Aspidoglossum interruptum (E.Mey.) Bullock, indigenous Aspidoglossum lamellatum (Schltr.) Kupicha, indigenous Aspidoglossum ovalifolium (Schltr.) Kupicha, indigenous Aspidoglossum restioides (Schltr.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum uncinatum (N.E.Br.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum validum Kupicha, indigenous Aspidoglossum virgatum (E.Mey.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum woodii (Schltr.) Kupicha, endemic Aspidoglossum xanthosphaerum Hilliard, endemic

Aspidonepsis Genus Aspidonepsis: Aspidonepsis cognata (N.E.Br.) Nicholas & Goyder, endemic Aspidonepsis diploglossa (Turcz.) Nicholas & Goyder, indigenous Aspidonepsis flava (N.E.Br.) Nicholas & Goyder, endemic Aspidonepsis reenensis (N.E.Br.) Nicholas & Goyder, indigenous Aspidonepsis shebae Nicholas & Goyder, endemic

Astephanus Genus Astephanus: Astephanus marginatus Decne. accepted as Astephanus zeyheri Turcz. present Astephanus triflorus (L.f.) Schult. endemic Astephanus zeyheri Turcz. endemic

Australluma Genus Australluma: Australluma ubomboensis (I.Verd.) Bruyns, indigenous

Brachystelma Genus Brachystelma: Brachystelma afrum (Schltr.) N.E.Br. endemic Brachystelma angustum Peckover, endemic Brachystelma arnotii Baker, indigenous Brachystelma australe R.A.Dyer, endemic Brachystelma barberae Harv. ex Hook.f. indigenous Brachystelma brevipedicellatum Turrill, endemic Brachystelma bruceae]] R.A.Dyer, indigenous Brachystelma bruceae R.A.Dyer subsp. bruceae, endemic Brachystelma bruceae R.A.Dyer subsp. hirsutum R.A.Dyer, endemic Brachystelma burchellii (Decne.) Peckover, indigenous Brachystelma burchellii (Decne.) Peckover var. burchellii, indigenous Brachystelma burchellii (Decne.) Peckover var. grandiflorum (N.E.Br.) Meve, indigenous Brachystelma campanulatum N.E.Br. endemic Brachystelma canum R.A.Dyer, endemic Brachystelma cathcartense R.A.Dyer, endemic Brachystelma chloranthum (Schltr.) Peckover, indigenous Brachystelma chlorozonum E.A.Bruce, endemic Brachystelma christianeae Peckover, endemic Brachystelma circinatum E.Mey. indigenous Brachystelma coddii R.A.Dyer, indigenous Brachystelma comptum N.E.Br. endemic Brachystelma cummingii A.P.Dold, indigenous Brachystelma cupulatum R.A.Dyer, indigenous Brachystelma decipiens N.E.Br. endemic Brachystelma delicatum R.A.Dyer, endemic Brachystelma dimorphum R.A.Dyer, indigenous Brachystelma dimorphum R.A.Dyer subsp. dimorphum, endemic Brachystelma dimorphum R.A.Dyer subsp. gratum R.A.Dyer, endemic Brachystelma discoideum R.A.Dyer, indigenous Brachystelma duplicatum R.A.Dyer, endemic Brachystelma dyeri K.Balkwill & M.Balkwill, endemic Brachystelma elongatum (Schltr.) N.E.Br. endemic Brachystelma filifolium (N.E.Br.) Peckover, indigenous Brachystelma foetidum Schltr. indigenous Brachystelma franksiae N.E.Br. indigenous