Name:
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- Apocynum, the Latin for "dog bane", the name given
the Eurasian species Aconitum lycoctonum, known today as Purple
Wolfsbane; from the Greek apokunon (apokunon),
also "dog bane", applied to Marsdenia erecta, a south-eastern
European species of milkweed.
- androsaemifolium, from the Greek, 'androsaimon
(androsaimon), "man blood", refering to the blood red juice of
Hypericum perforatum, and the Latin folius, "leaf"; hence
"the dogbane with leaves resembling the plant which is named for its juices
the color of human blood". The juice of the dogbane is milky white.
- Common Dogbane, "Common" because it beats trying to translate the GrecoLatin;
"dogbane" an ancient name.
- Other common names include Spreading Dogbane, Milkweed, Bitter Root,
Fly-Trap, Apocyn à Feuilles d'Androsème (Fr)
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Taxonomy:
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- Kingdom Plantae, the Plants
- Division Magnoliophyta, the Angiosperms (flowering plants)
- Class Magnoliopsida, the Dicotyledons
- Subclass Asteridae
- Order Gentianales, the Gentians
- Family Apocynaceae, the Dogbanes
- Genus Apocynum, the Dogbanes
- Taxonomic Serial Number: 30156
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Description:
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- A shrub-like, perennial herb, 1'-4' tall.
- Leaves paired and ovate, toothless, dark green above,
paler and downy beneath, 2"-3" long.
- Stems ruddy and branching, and, in common with the other
three members of the genus, yielding on incision a milky juice resembling
India rubber when dry.
- Flowers bell shaped, white, tinged with red and fragrant,
dangling from curved stalks; five scales in the throat of the corolla secrete
a sweet liquid, attractive to flies. These scales are very sensitive, and
when touched bend inward, imprisoning the insects.
- Fruit dry narrow pods, in pairs, 3"-8" long.
- Seeds reddish, with long white hairs.
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Identification:
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Distribution:
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Habitat:
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- Dry, sunny places; open woods, thickets, roadsides.
- Dry sandy or rocky woodlands with oak, pine, aspen, bracken fern, and
sweet fern. Prospers after disturbance such as fire and logging.
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Fire:
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Associates:
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History:
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- Native Americans twisted the fibrous outer bark to make thread and bowstrings.
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Uses:
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- Root has been used for medicinal purposes. Excessive doses of the extracts
cause sickness and death in humans. Contains apocynamarin, a cardiac glycoside,
as well as other glycosides and resins.
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Reproduction:
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- Blooms mid-June through the end of July in the North Country.
- Reproduces by seed and vegetatively by rhizomes
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Propagation:
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- By seed, sown at 68ºF, germinates rapidly.
- Division most successful method
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Cultivation:
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- Hardy to USDA Zone 3 (average minimum annual temperature -40ºF)
- Good for the butterfly garden. Due to its rapid spreading, it is
rarely planted in gardens.
- Prefers full sun.
- Availability limited.
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Links:
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Comments:
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Last Updated on
26 February, 2004
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