Practical
Plants

Apocynum androsaemifolium

Spreading Dogbane

a perennial member of the Apocynum genus in the family Apocynaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
1 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant are poisonous[1][15].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Spreading dogbane is an unpleasantly bitter stimulant irritant herb that acts on the heart, respiratory and urinary systems, and also on the uterus[9]. It was widely employed by the native North American Indians who used it to treat a wide variety of complaints including headaches, convulsions, earache, heart palpitations, colds, insanity and dizziness[10]. It should be used with great caution, and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner if taking this plant internally[6][9]. The root contains cymarin, a cardioactive glycoside that is toxic to ruminants[8]. The root is cardiotonic, cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and expectorant[1][11][6][14][8]. It has a powerful action in slowing the pulse and also has a very strong action on the vaso-motor system, it is rather an irritant to the mucous membranes though, so some people cannot tolerate it[11]. The juice of the fresh root has been used in the treatment of syphilis[5]. The sap of the plant has been applied externally to get rid of warts[10]. The roots were boiled in water and the water drunk once a week in order to prevent conception[7]. The green fruits were boiled and the decoction used in the treatment of heart and kidney problems and for the treatment of dropsy[7]. This preparation can irritate the intestines and cause unpleasant side-effects[7].

Product or use
Cardiotonic
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
VD

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The bark yields a good quality fibre that is used for making twine, bags, linen etc[11][16][2][10]. It is inferior to A. cannabinum[16]. The fibre is finer and stronger than cotton[5]. It can be harvested after the leaves fall in the autumn but is probably at its best as the seed pods are forming[3]. The plant yields a latex, which is a possible source of rubber[13][14]. It is obtained by making incisions on the stem and resembles indiarubber when dry[11].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Latex

Environment

Range
Northern N. America.
Habitat
Open woodland, woodland edges etc, usually on drier soils[12][15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in late summer and overwintered outdoors. The seed requires a period of cold stratification if it is to germinate well[9]. Prick out the seedlings when large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter, planting out in late spring of the following year[K]. Division in spring just before active growth begins[4]. Plants can also be divided in the autumn[9].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers an acid peaty soil[1] but it succeeds in sun or shade in most well-drained soils and climates[3][4]. A very ornamental plant[1], but it can be invasive[4]. The flowers the flowers secrete a sweet liquid that is very attractive to flies[11]. The flies are then imprisoned by their proboscis which becomes trapped between the short filaments of the stamens[5].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Arnberger. L. P. Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Southwestern Monuments Ass. 1968-00-00

    ↩

  3. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  7. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  9. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  10. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  12. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  13. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  14. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  15. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  16. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩1↩2

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