Hemipogon (plant)

Hemipogon is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apocynaceae, subfamily Asclepiadoideae (formerly Asclepiadaceae). These plants are native to South America, specifically found in regions of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. They are typically perennial herbs or subshrubs.

Hemipogon species are characterized by their slender, twining stems and small, often inconspicuous flowers. The flowers are typically arranged in umbels or cymes. The corolla is usually campanulate (bell-shaped) or rotate (wheel-shaped) and features a characteristic corona, a structure between the corolla and the stamens. The leaves are typically opposite, simple, and entire.

The fruit is a follicle, typical of the Asclepiadoideae, containing numerous seeds with a coma (a tuft of hairs) which aids in wind dispersal.

The classification and taxonomy of Hemipogon have undergone some revisions over time, reflecting the ongoing efforts to understand the relationships within the Asclepiadoideae. More recent classifications often incorporate molecular data to clarify these relationships.