APOCYNUM — DOGIJAXE. 220 



Stamens 5, inserted on the base of the eoroUa ; lilaiaents flat, shorter than 

 the saj^ittate anthers. Style none ; stigma larf^o, slightly 2-lobe(l. Fruit 

 eonsists of 2 loiiy, (roriaceous pods ; seeds numerous, ovoid, with u long 

 tuft of silky down at the apex. 



Perennial herljs with upright, bi'anehing stems, opposite, inucronatc- 

 pointed leaves, tough fibrous bark, and small, pale, terminal or axillary 

 flowers, on short pedicels. 



Apocynum androscemifolium Linne. — Dogbane 



JM<i-rij)liiJii. — Stem 2 to IJ feet high, smooth, often pnii^lish, with 

 forked branches above. Leaves ovate, petiolate, smooth or somewhat 

 downy. Flowers in loose spreading cymes ; corolla bell-shaped, the lobes 

 revolute, the tube longer than the ovate, pointed segments of the calyx, 

 pale rose-color, appearing in June and July. 



llahilid. — In copses, and borders of -woods ; common. 



Apocynum cannabinum Linnr. — Indian. I/<:inp. 



lh'f<cri.p/i(ni. — Stem and branches erect or ascending, 2 to 8 feet high, 

 smooth. Leaves oblong or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or rounded, or the 

 uppermost acute at both ends, petiolate. Flowers smalk'r than in the pre- 

 ceding, in close, many-flowered cymes ; corolla-lobes nearly erect, the tube 

 not longer than the lanceolate .segments of the calyx, greenish-white, ap- 

 pearing in July and August. A sonnnvhat variable species. 



Ifabildf. — In shady places ; (!ommon. 



/\ni I'sed. — The root of A. cannabinum — United Slalom Phcn'macofcia. 

 The root of the other species is also used. 



CuHHlitaenlii. — The active principles of these plants have not been iso- 

 lated. 



rr('pa7'a(ion><. — They ai"e usually employed in decoction. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — A. cannabinum is diajjlioretic, diuretic, 

 emetic, and cathartic. It has been used chiefly in dropsy, and is said to 

 possess some advantages over many hydrogogues in that it acts not only 

 upon the bowels but powerfully also upon the skin and kidneys. The 

 other species possesses similar properties, but is believed to be less active. 



ASCLEPIADACE/E. 



Character of (lie Order. — Plants with opposite or whorled, rai'ely scat- 

 tering, exstii)ulate leaves, and a milky juice. Calyx u-jjarted. Corolla 5- 

 parted, the lobes commonly valvate in the bud. Stamens 5, inserted in 

 the corolla ; iilaments commonly united into a tul)e which encloses the 

 pistil ; anthers adherent to the stigma ; pollen cohering into graimlar or 

 wax -like masses. Fruit a pod. 



A large order of chiefly tropical plants, represented in North America 

 by only a few comparatively unimportant {genera. 



