HERBS 



51 





H-39. COMMON DOGBANE or 

 INDIAN HEMP, Apocynum canna - 

 binum , Dogbane Fam. A deep- 

 rooted plant, l'-5' tall, with erect, 

 smooth and pointed leaves, 2" -4" 

 long, and terminal flowers white, 

 pink or rose colored, in clusters. 

 Found in shady or moist places. 



Poisonous to stock, but usually 

 avoided due to the bitter, rubbery 

 juice. Indians made nets and rope 

 from the fibers of pounded stems 

 and roots. Seeds are eaten after 

 being parched, and are sometimes 

 ground into meal to make fried cakes. In New Mexico the stems 

 of the Dogbane are broken and placed in the sun to dry and the lit- 

 tle balls of hardened juice are used as chewing gumc The dried 

 rhizomes and roots are used as heart stimulants and cathartics 

 (to induce swift bowel movement). It is still in use today as a 

 medicine for Bright' s disease and irregularities of the heart. The 



GREEHlSh 



wh^te: 



roots are gathered in autumn 



H-40. 

 Asclepias 

 Fam. (A. 



MILKWEED, 

 sp. , Milkweed 

 mexlcana, Nar- 

 row-leaved Milkweed, il- 

 lustrated). Usually tall, 

 slender plants, 2-5' high; 

 leaves 2" -6" long; flowers 

 usually with turned-back 

 sepals and various colors; 

 stems show milky juice. 



Poisonous to cattle and 

 sheep, but rarely to horses. 

 Indians dried and removed 

 sheeth from stalk after cut- 

 ting. On outside of woody 

 center was a fibre covering. This was removed and made into 

 string, also fish nets. Milk was collected and rolled until firm 

 enough to make chewing gum. Green plant was collected when 

 very small and boiled in two waters to use as greens. 



POD WITH 

 5E:ED5 



Most Hab. 



Most States 

 W. Can. 



Most Hab. 



Most States 

 W. Can. 



Pods and 



