Sarcostemma

Taxobox
name = "Sarcostemma"

---

image_size = 270px
image_caption = "Sarcostemma cynanchoides"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Gentianales
familia = Apocynaceae
subfamilia = Asclepiadoideae
genus = "Sarcostemma"
genus_authority = R. Br.

"Sarcostemma" is a genus of at least 35 species of plants in family Asclepiadaceae. These are known generally as climbing milkweeds or caustic bushes. They are found across Africa and tropical Asia, in Australia, and in parts of North America. These plants are perennial flowering shrubs with trailing vines or lianas. They are often adapted to heat and/or desert conditions. Some have few or no leaves and photosynthesize in the tissues of the green stems. The soft stems are filled with a milky white latex that is poisonous and caustic in some species. The flowers have a ring of thick tissue at the base which extends into hollow spherical appendages within the flower corolla.

Species include:
* "Sarcostemma acidum"
* "Sarcostemma angustissima"
* "Sarcostemma australe" - caustic vine
* "Sarcostemma brevipedicellatum"
* "Sarcostemma cynanchoides"
* "Sarcostemma clausum" - white twinevine
* "Sarcostemma decorsei"
* "Sarcostemma esculentum"
* "Sarcostemma hirtellum" - hairy milkweed
* "Sarcostemma membranaceum"
* "Sarcostemma mulanjense"
* "Sarcostemma socotranum"
* "Sarcostemma viminale" - Rapunzel plant

External links

* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?583,606 Jepson Manual Treatment]
* [http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/22498 "Sarcostemma" in Australia]
* [http://www.calflora.net/specialpages/specialpages9.html "Sarcostemma" in California]