The subfamily periplocoideae contains the genera which were formerly included in the family periplocaceae. It is nowadays combined with other subfamilies, containing the former apocynaceae sensu stricto and asclepiadaceae, into one large family under the name apocynaceae. Periplocoideae is similar in most aspects to asclepiadoideae, from which it mainly differs in its pollination mechanism. As, particularly the other subfamilies, can be clearly distinguished from each other, it is preferred to still deal with them in separate lists.