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spreading dogbane
Scientific Name: Apocynum androsaemifolium
Family: Apocynaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Apocynum androsaemifolium - Spreading Dogbane
Apocynum androsaemifolium, commonly known as Spreading Dogbane or Fly-trap dogbane, is a flowering plant belonging to the Gentianales order.
Considerations for Pets
- All parts of the Spreading Dogbane plant are considered poisonous.
- The plant contains a milky sap that oozes when the stem is cut or broken.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Apocynum androsaemifolium L.
- Family: Apocynaceae (Dogbane Family)
- Order: Gentianales
- Common Names: Spreading dogbane, Fly-trap dogbane, Bitterroot, Indian hemp, American ipecac, bitter dogbane, bitter-root, black Indian hemp, catch fly, colicroot, common dog's-bane, dogbane, fly trap, honey bloom, Wandering milkweed, rheumatism~wood.
- Synonyms: Some sources list Clasping-leaved Dogbane (A. sibiricum) as related, although this may be a distinct species.
Distribution and Habitat
- Spreading dogbane is widely distributed across North America, including Canada and the United States.
- It is commonly found in open woodlands, pastures, woodland edges, and roadsides. It also appears in wild blueberry fields.
Ecological Role
- Spreading dogbane can be highly competitive, spreading rapidly from underground rhizomes and forming distinct patches. This can be problematic in agricultural settings like wild blueberry fields.
- It is a host plant for several local butterfly species in the Finger Lakes region.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- It is an herbaceous perennial, typically growing to a height of 1-3 feet.
- The plant features erect stems with many branches. Stems can be light green to red, glabrous (smooth), and terete (circular in cross-section).
- Leaves are entire, pointed oval shaped, spreading or drooping, and can be hairy underneath. They are arranged oppositely on the stems, are short-stalked, and measure 2.5-8 cm long.
- Flowers are small (approximately 1/3 inch long), pale pink to white, and bell-shaped, often with pink stripes inside. They form in open clusters.
- Seeds are 3-4 mm long.
- Broken stems will emit a milky sap.
Genetic Information
- The plant's chromosome number is 2n=16.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Spreading dogbane serves as a host plant for certain butterfly species.
- Chrysochus auratus is a natural enemy of spreading dogbane.