near the borders of thickets, fields, and fence rows. The specific name 

 androsaemifolium apparently refers to the general similarity in size and shape 

 of its leaves to those of tutsan, or sweet-amber (Hypericum- androsaemum, syn. 

 Androsaemum officinale), a cultivated, aromatic, Old World shrub belonging to 

 the St. Johnswort genus. 



This species is the botanical type of Apocynum and is also very representative 

 of the western range dogbanes. It possesses little forage value, rating as worth- 

 less to fair for sheep and worthless for cattle and horses. The fragrant flowers 

 attract bees, and in dry, interior regions with poor soils are particularly 

 esteemed as sources of nectar. 1 The almost colorless resultant honey has an 

 excellent flavor, considered by some experts as superior to that of fireweed 

 honey. 1 Spreading dogbane blooms for an unusually long period, and hence 

 is available when other honey plants have disappeared. 2 Local florists distribute 

 spreading dogbane as a hardy border plant ; it grows well in dry, open places. 



DOGBANES (Apo'cynum spp.) 



The dogbanes, commonly known as Indian-hemp 3 and Canadian-hemp, are a 

 small genus of perennial herbs which occur chiefly throughout the North Tem- 

 perate Zone. They are widely distributed in North America, especially in the 

 temperate regions, with approximately 10 species native to the West, and gen- 

 erally occurring from the plains and foothills to the high mountains. Dogbanes 

 are common on river bottoms and hillsides as well as in open woods, thickets, 

 and fields. Dogbanes are always listed by toxicologists as poisonous plants, 

 but the prevalent belief that the genus is poisonous to livestock lacks substantia- 

 tion largely due to the fact that domestic animals usually avoid them pre- 

 sumably because of their bitter, milky, rubber-containing juice. 



The generic name Apocynum is Latinized from the Greek apokunon (apo, 

 from, off, or away from, + Jcunon, dogs), a name used by the early Greek 

 medical writer, Dioscorides Pedanius, to describe a milkweedlike plant. Both 

 the generic name Apocynum and the common name dogbane allude to the idea 

 that the plant is obnoxious to the canine family and, hence, keeps dogs away. 

 These plants have a tough, fibrous bark, and are sources of a substitute for 

 hemp, which explains the name, Indian-hemp, frequently applied to members of 

 this genus. The bark fiber of both spreading dogbane and hemp dogbane (A. 

 canna'binum) provided the principal cordage for the western aborigines; 4 the 

 latter species was apparently superior for that purpose. 



Hemp dogbane is another important species of dogbane growing extensively 

 in the United States, frequently in the same situations as spreading dogbane. 

 It ranges from New Brunswick and Ontario to British Columbia and south to 

 California, Texas, and Florida, but does not occur in Alaska nor extend as 

 far north in Canada as spreading dogbane. It grows chiefly in gravelly or 

 sandy soil on moist ground, especially along streams, and also in open woods 

 and thickets. Hemp dogbane is an erect species, from 2 to 4 feet tall, having 

 usually ascending, leafy branches ; the stems are smooth and often slightly 

 covered with a waxy bloom (glaucescent). The greenish white or flesh-colored 

 flowers are borne in dense, round-topped clusters (cymes). This species is the 

 source of a valuable cardiac stimulant and diuretic, which is useful in the 

 treatment of cardiac dropsy and chronic Bright's disease. 6 That drug causes 

 violent vomiting and sometimes purging if given in very large closes ; however, 

 no serious case of poisoning attributable to this plant has been recorded. 6 

 Although somewhat similar to hemp dogbane in medicinal properties, spreading 

 dogbane is considered inferior and is not now used officially. 



1 Pcllett, F. C. AMERICAN HONEY PLANTS TOGETHER WITH THOSE WHICH ARE OF SPECIAL 



VALUE TO THE BEEKEEPER AS SOURCES OF POLLEN. Ed. 3, rev. and enl., 419 pp., illus. 

 Hamilton, 111. 1930. 



2 Clements, E. S. FLOWERS OF COAST AND SIERRA. 220 pp., illus. New York. 1928. 



3 Not to be confused with the narcotic, tiue Indian hemp, or hasheesh (CannaMs indica). 

 * Blankinship, J. W. NATIVE ECONOMIC PLANTS OF MONTANA. Mont. Agr. Expt. Sta. 



Bull. 56, 36 pp. 1905. 



6 Wood, H. C., Remington, J. P., and Sadtler, S. P., assisted by Lyons, A. B., and Wood, 



H. C., Jr. THE DISPENSATORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BY DR. GEO. B. WOOD AND 



DR. FRANKLIN BACHE. Ed. 19, thoroughly rev. and largely rewritten . . . 1,947 pp. 

 Philadelphia and London. 1907. 



