The rook ie Oficingl fr the they 
133-2 
Apocynacez.—This family of chiefly tropical plants of poisonous nature, has. 
the following characteristics: Trees, woody shrubs, or herbs, exuding when 
wounded, a milky, acrid juice. eaves entire, feather-veined, arranged alter- 
nately, oppositely, or in whorls; sépules wanting. /nflorescence terminal or axil- 
lary cymes, or panicles; flowers 5-merous and 5-androus, perfect and regular. 
Calyx free from the ovary, persistent. Covo//a gamopetalous; lobes convolute 
or twisted in the bud. Stamens equal in number to the corolla lobes and alter- 
nate with them; azthers distinct or nearly so, encircling the stigma and sometimes 
adhering to it, 2-celled, introrsely and longitudinally splitting ; Z/amen¢s distinct, 
inserted upon the tube of the corolla; Ao/lex of loose grains, sometimes glutinous. 
Ovaries 2, united or distinct, biplacentiferous; ovw/es numerous or few, anatro- 
pous or amphitropous ; s/y/e single, common to both ovaries; stigma single, capi- 
tate, the receptive surface consisting of a ring encircling the under surface of the 
stigma, Carpe/s 2, distinct or united; seeds numerous, comose or acomose; albu- 
men sparse ; embryo straight and comparatively large. 
This family contains in North America 9 genera, 21 species, and 2 varieties. 
Beside the two under consideration, the following species have a place in the 
Homeeopathic Materia Medica: Dita bark (A/stonia scholaris) ; Oleander (Nerium 
oleander) ; Tanghinia (Zanghinia Madagascariensis, Pet. Th.; 7. venenifera, Poir ; 
Cerbera tanghina, Hook.) ; the Antillesian Ahovai-baum (Thevetia nererfolia, Juss. ; 
Cerbera thevetia, Linn.) ; Toxicophleea (Toxicophlwa Thunbergi) ; Upas (Strychnos 
treute) ; Periwinkle (Vixca minor, Linn.) ; and Echites (Echites subcrecta, Jacq.). 
History and Habitat—The habitat of both indigenous species is generally 
given as the same—z. ¢., sandy soils and the borders of old fields and open 
woods. I have noticed that 4. androsemifolium answers well to this habitat, but » 
that A. cannadinum is found much more abundant in marshy places and on the 
banks of rivers, particularly where they are subjected to submergence during 
high water. Their geographical range is: from the Canadas southward to Geor- 
gia and Florida, and westward to California, A. cannabinum extending the farther 
south of the two. The two species blossom together in June and July, fruiting as 
they flower. 
This species yields the better and tougher “hemp” of the two, and is more 
utilized. Porcher quotes* the Rural Cyc. as follows: 
“This plant has been proved by Prof. Thouin, of Paris, to possess a stronger 
fibre than that of hemp; and is used by the American Indians for making cordage, 
fishing-nets, and coarse cloth.” He further states: “The decoction affords a per- 
manent dye, brown or black, according to the mordant used.” 
‘In general and domestic practice this species has been used and lauded as 
an excellent diuretic,} also as an hydragogue cathartic, emetic, and diaphoretic 
__ in proper relative dosage. | 
| The roo c in th In the Eclectic Materia Medica the 
_ preparation is: Zinctura Apocyni. | oe 
Bets Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, p. 484. 
_-¥ See page 132-2, concerning decoction, =” 
