Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)

Apocynum androsaemifolium L.

Apocynum ambigens Greene

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. glabrum Macoun

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. griseum (Greene) Bég. & Beloserky

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. intermedium Woodson

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. incanum A. DC.

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. ssp. pumilum (A. Gray) B. Boivin

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. pumilum A. Gray

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. tomentellum (Greene) B. Boivin

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. woodsonii B. Boivin

Apocynum pumilum (A. Gray) Greene

Apocynum pumilum (A. Gray) Greene var. rhomboideum (Greene) Bég. & Beloserky

Apocynum scopulorum Greene ex Rydb.

Spreading dogbane

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Gentianales	Gentians, coffee, gardenias, frangipani, many others
Family	Apocynaceae	Dogbane family
Genus	Apocynum	From Greek apo, “away from;” and kyon or kunos, “dog”: noxious to dogs, for its ancient use as a dog poison
Species	androsaemifolium	With leaves like Androsaemum, which derives from the Greek name Androsaimon, which in turn is derived from andros, “man,” and haima, “blood,” in reference to its blood-red sap or juice

About plant names...

Spreading dogbane is related to milkweeds and, like milkweeds, exudes a milky sap when leaves and stems are broken. The foreboding name dogbane comes from its strong toxicity, to people as well as dogs. Dogbane is a North America native plant.

Identification: Plants are shrubby, up to 4' (1.2 m) in height. Stems are branching, smooth or slightly hairy, round, light green, dark red, or purple. Leaves are opposite, roughly oval-shaped, with pointed tips and smooth edges, green on top and pale green below. Flowers are white to pink or with pink interiors, about ¼" (6.3 mm) around, tubular to bell-shaped, with five flared petals. They are fragrant and occur in clusters at the tips of branches. They remind me a little of blueberry flowers.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones Potent, intensely bitter alkaloids apocynamarin or cymarin depress heart rate and act on the vaso-motor system.

Online References:

Apocynum androsaemifolium on Missouriplants.com

Apocynum androsaemifolium on Montana Plant Life

Apocynum androsaemifolium at Botanical.com

Apocynum androsaemifolium at Illinois Wildflowers

Apocynum androsaemifolium on the University of Massachusetts Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Program

6/27/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, MA
≈ 3½ × 4" (9.6 × 10 cm)

6/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, MA
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm)

This photo is looking up from below. · 8/18/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, MA
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

Apocynum androsaemifolium description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

6/27/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, MA
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm)

8/4/2009 · Near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, MA
≈ 12 × 9" (29 × 22 cm)

7/6/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, MA
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

8/16/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, MA
≈ 4½ × 5" (11 × 12 cm)

6/15/2012 · Townsend State Forest, Townsend, MA
≈ 12 × 8" (31 × 20 cm) ID is uncertain

7/28/2013 · Andres Institute of Art, Big Bear Mountain, Brookline, NH
≈ 13 × 14" (32 × 34 cm)

7/6/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, MA
≈ 5 × 3½" (12 × 9.2 cm)

Range:

About this map...