Woody climbers, shrubs or trees. Leaves simple, opposite, rarely whorled or alternate; margins usually entire. Stipules sometimes present. Inflorescence of axillary cymes, terminal panicles or solitary flowers. Flowers 5-merous, bisexual, regular, heterostylous. Sepals persistent, free or fused. Corolla imbricate. Petals funnel-shaped, partly or completely fused. Stamens opposite the sepals; filaments attached to petals; anthers latrorse. Gynoecium of 2 united carpels, ovary superior, ovules 2 per carpel. Style usually twice-branched (sometimes once). Fruit a loculicidal and/or septicidal capsule or rarely a samara, calyx usually persistent. Seeds winged or hairy, flattened, or rugose.
Gelsemiaceae has usually been placed in Loganiaceae. This treatment follows Stevens, P.F. (2018, Angiosperm Phylogeny Website).
Segregated from Loganiaceae because of the imbricate corolla, usually twice-branched style, usually latrorse anthers and often flattened seeds (Mabberley 2017).
Worldwide: Genera 3 and species 11 in tropical and subtropical regions.
Created by: Val Stajsic
Updated by: Val Stajsic, July 2018