DOGBANE FAMILY 



APOCYNACE^: 



DOGBANE. The Dogbane is the typical repre- 

 sentative of the Dogbane family. It is beloved 

 of butterflies and is one of the most attractive 

 summer blossoming plants. The flowers are 

 small individually but they are so grouped as to 

 be quite conspicuous against the background of 

 the clean green leaves. The whole plant is full 

 of grace : the stems are smooth and rounded, with 

 glistening bark ; the leaves are oval and pointed ; 

 the pinkish-white flowers are bell-shaped ; and the 

 long pods which succeed them are slender and 

 decorative. In its structure the blossom is some- 

 what like that of the Milkweed, and insects are 

 often caught and held by the curious device by 

 which the plant effects cross-pollination. These 

 are usually small flies, however ; the larger butter- 

 flies are able to extricate themselves from the 

 tiny traps. 



In many localities the Dogbane has become a 

 troublesome weed in fields and pastures. Like 

 the closely related Indian Hemp it spreads by long 

 rootstocks as well as by the winged seeds. Both 

 these species are poisonous. 



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