72 
THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
GENUS I. 
APOCYNUM, Lin. THE DOG’S-BANE. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Corolla campanulate, with five small acute teeth in the tube, opposite the segments of the limb. Stamens 
enclosed. Styles wanting. Hypogynous scales five. Follicles slender. 
Description, &c. — This genus was well known to the ancients and it was called Apocynum by Dioscorides, 
which signifies literally “ dog’s bane,” because it was supposed to be peculiarly injurious to dogs. There are 
numerous species, several of which are hardy perennials. They have nearly all the peculiarity of throwing up a 
great many suckers from the root. 
]. —apocynum ANDROSAIMIFOLIUM, Lin. THE TUTSAN-LEAVED DOG’S-BANE. 
Synonv. *"s. — Apocynum canadense, Bocc. ; Fly-catching Apo- 1 Specific Character. — Stem erect. Leaves ovate and glabrous. i 
cynum. Cymes terminal and lateral. Tube of the corolla much longer than 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 280 ; and our Jig. 5, in PI. 68. | the calyx. | 
Description, &c. — This is a hardy perennial plant, growing about two feet high, and flowering from July 
to September. It will not thrive in a wet soil ; but in light dry soils, and in a warm situation, it increases so 
fast as to become quite a weed, throwing up an amazing number of suckers, by which it is propagated, as it 
rarely ripens seeds in this country. The flowers of this plant have a sweet, honey-like fragrance, which perfumes | 
the air to a considerable distance, and which probably operates in attracting insects ; as, when the flowers of this ■ 
plant are fully blown, flies are generally found attached to them, some dead, and others alive and struggling to 
disentangle themselves. Sometimes four, or even five, may be found in one flower. The manner in which these f 
flies are caught is very curious. The five stamens have large anthers, which form a kind of cone in the centre of 
the flower. Each of these anthers is arrow-shaped ; and though towards the top of the cone their sides touch, 
lower down they separate a little, so as to leave a narrow opening or slit between every two. In the centre of 
the anthers stands the stigma, which is in the shape of a little urn, the middle of which is encircled by a 
glandular ring, which secretes a glutinous honey-like substance. This sweet substance attracts the flies, which j 
insinuate their trunks between the openings at the lower part of the anthers ; and then, the trunk being raised 
upwards to obtain the honey, is drawn into the narrow part of the slit, and becomes so closely wedged in, that 
the insect can very seldom extricate itself. The species is a native of different parts of North America and 
Canada, whence it was introduced in 1688. 
2.— APOCYNUM CANNABINUM, Lin. THE HEMP DOG’S-BANE. 
Specific Character. — Leaves lanceolate, acute at both ends, glabrous ; cymes panicled ; calyx equal in length to the tube of the corolla. 
(G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This species grows two or three feet high, and has small yellowi.sh-green flowers. It is 
a native of Canada and various parts of North America, where it is frequently called Indian Hemp, because the 
Indians use the fibres of the stems, as we do those of the hemp, in making ropes, fishing-nets, bags, and various 
other articles. It was introduced in 1699. 
