雄蕊彼此互相粘合并粘生在柱头上；花药箭头状，顶端渐尖，基部具耳，稀非箭头状；果为
蓇葖果；种子顶端具长种毛；花冠裂片通常向右覆盖，稀向左覆盖。
夹竹桃亚科——Subfam. Apocynoideae Woodson
Woodson in Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard. 17: 9. 1930.
夹竹桃族Trib. Apocyneae Airy Shaw
花皮胶藤族Trib. Ecdysanthereae Pichon
止泻木族Trib. Holarrheneae Tsiang