Apocynum cannabinum

Apocynum cannabinum (dogbane, amy root, hemp dogbane, prairie dogbane, Indian hemp, hemp dogsbane, rheumatism root, dogsbane, or wild cotton) is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows throughout much of North America—in the southern half of Canada and throughout the United States. It is poisonous to humans, dogs, cats, and horses. All parts of the plant contain toxic cardiac glycosides that can cause potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias if ingested. Some Lepidoptera can withstand the toxins and feed on this plant.

Description Apocynum cannabinum grows up to tall. The stems are reddish and contain a milky latex. The leaves are opposite, simple, broad, and lanceolate, long and broad, entire, and smooth on top with white hairs on the underside. It flowers from July to August, has large sepals, and a five-lobed white corolla. The flowers are hermaphrodite, with both male and female organs. The seeds have white, silky hairs to aid in wind dispersal, but the lightweight seed is also able to disperse via water due to its light weight. The root system consists of short rhizomes and horizontal roots.

Taxonomy Apocynum cannabinum was described and named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is classified in the genus Apocynum, a part of the family Apocynaceae. It has no accepted subspecies, but it has synonyms.

Table of Synonyms Name Year Rank Notes Apocynum album 1897 species = het. Apocynum angustifolium 1913 species = het., nom. illeg. Apocynum arenarium 1912 species = het. Apocynum bebbianum 1912 species = het. Apocynum bolanderi 1912 species = het. Apocynum breweri 1912 species = het. Apocynum canadense 1806 species = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. album 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. angustifolium 1984 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum f. arenarium 1966 form = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. bolanderi 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum subsp. cordigerum 1982 subspecies = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. estellinum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. floribundum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. glaberrimum 1844 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. greeneanum 1930 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. hypericifolium 1848 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. incanum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. isophyllum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. lanceolatum 1854 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. nemorale 1908 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. oliganthum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. palustre 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum f. pennsilvanicum 1913 form = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. puberulum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum f. pubescens 1894 form = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. pubescens 1844 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. suksdorfii 1913 variety = het. Apocynum cannabinum var. typicum 1913 variety ≡ hom., not validly publ. Apocynum carolinii 1913 species = het. Apocynum cervinum 1912 species = het. Apocynum cinereum 1913 species = het., nom. illeg. Apocynum cordigerum 1911 species = het. Apocynum cuspidatum 1913 species = het. Apocynum densiflorum 1912 species = het. Apocynum dictyotum 1912 species = het. Apocynum dimidiatum 1840 species = het. Apocynum estellinum 1912 species = het. Apocynum farwellii 1912 species = het. Apocynum farwellii f. anomalum 1916 form = het. Apocynum farwellii var. glaucum 1916 variety = het. Apocynum farwellii f. ternarium 1916 form = het. Apocynum farwellii f. verticillare 1916 form = het. Apocynum greeneanum 1913 species = het. Apocynum hypericifolium 1789 species = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. angustifolium 1913 variety = het. Apocynum hypericifolium f. arenarium 1911 form = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. cordigerum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. farwellii 1930 variety = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. intermedium 1913 variety = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. myrianthum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. nevadense 1913 variety = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. oblongum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. salignum 1913 variety = het. Apocynum hypericifolium var. typicum 1913 variety = het., not validly publ. Apocynum isophyllum 1912 species = het. Apocynum ithacense 1912 species = het. Apocynum laurinum 1902 species = het. Apocynum littorale 1912 species = het. Apocynum longifolium 1912 species = het. Apocynum macounii 1913 species = het. Apocynum missouriense 1912 species = het. Apocynum myrianthum 1904 species = het. Apocynum nemorale 1900 species = het. Apocynum neogeum 1913 species = het. Apocynum nevadense 1904 species = het. Apocynum oblongum 1902 species = het. Apocynum oliganthum 1904 species = het. Apocynum palustre 1904 species = het. Apocynum piscatorium 1844 species = het. Apocynum platyphyllum 1912 species = het. Apocynum procerum 1912 species = het. Apocynum pubescens 1811 species = het. Apocynum purpureum 1836 species = het. Apocynum salignum 1902 species = het. Apocynum sibiricum 1777 species = het. Apocynum sibiricum f. arenarium 1935 form = het. Apocynum sibiricum var. cordigerum 1935 variety = het. Apocynum sibiricum var. farwellii 1938 variety = het. Apocynum sibiricum var. salignum 1935 variety = het. Apocynum subuligerum 1912 species = het. Apocynum suksdorfii 1902 species = het. Apocynum suksdorfii var. angustifolium 1930 variety = het. Apocynum suksdorfii var. typicum 1902 variety = het., not validly publ. Apocynum thermale 1912 species = het. Apocynum tomentulosum 1913 species = het. Apocynum venetum 1844 species = het., nom. illeg. Cynopaema cannabinum 1916 species ≡ hom. Cynopaema hypericifolium 1916 species = het. Forsteronia pavonii 1844 species = het. Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym

Etymology Apocynum means "poisonous to dogs". The specific epithet cannabinum, and the common names hemp dogbane and Indian hemp refer to its similarity to Cannabis as a source of fiber. It likely got its name from its resemblance to a European species of the same name. It is called qéemu in Nez Perce and in Sahaptin. The Maidu Concow people call the plant pö (Konkow language).

Distribution and habitat Apocynum cannabinum grows in open wooded areas, ditches, and hillsides. It is found in gravelly or sandy soil, mainly near streams in shady or moist places. It is also found in human-disturbed habitats. It is native to much of North America—in the southern half of Canada and throughout the United States.

Ecology

The plant serves as a larval host for the snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), which is a pollinator that resembles a small hummingbird. It is also a host plant for the dogbane tiger moth (Cycnia tenera) and the zebra caterpillar (Melanchra picta). The larvae of Marmara apocynella feed on the stems, making a "long whitish serpentine mine". Apocynum cannabinum is primarily pollinated by insects that are attracted to the fragrance and nectar of the flower.

Toxicity It is poisonous to humans, dogs, cats, and horses. All parts of the plant are toxic and contain cardiac glycosides. The plant is toxic both green and dried. The stems contain a white sap capable of causing skin blisters.

Uses Fiber Much like flax and hemp, Apocynum cannabinum contains long fibers in the stems, known as bast fibers, which can be extracted and used to create textiles. The fibers are very fine and strong, with a silky texture, and easier to process than hemp. The stalks of this plant have been used as a source of fiber by Native Americans to make bows, fire-bows, nets, tie-down straps, hunting nets, fishing lines, bags, and clothing. According to Craig Bates of the Yosemite Museum, five stalks of the plant are needed to make one foot of cordage. A large bag used for storing roots would take one to three months to complete. The stems should be harvested in the fall, after the leaves have fallen and the stalks have turned a deep reddish-brown color. Since cutting the stalks promotes regrowth in the spring, as much as possible should be harvested. Unused stems are traditionally cleared away by burning, which causes the plant to grow back taller and straighter in spring.

Food The seeds have an edible use as a meal (raw or cooked) when ground into a powder.

Chewing gum The plant's latex sap can be squeezed from the plant and allowed to stand overnight to harden into a white gum which can be used (sometimes mixed with clean clay) as chewing gum.

Phytoremediation Apocynum cannabinum can be used to sequester lead in its biomass by taking it up from the soil through its roots. This process, called phytoremediation, could help clean sites contaminated with lead.

Medicinal

It is used in herbal medicine to treat fever and to slow the pulse. Apocynum cannabinum has been employed by various Native American tribes to treat a wide variety of complaints including rheumatism, coughs, pox, whooping cough, asthma, internal parasites, diarrhea, and to increase lactation. The root has been used as a tonic, cardiotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, an emetic (to induce vomiting), and an expectorant. It is harvested in the autumn and dried for later use. The fresh root is medicinally the most active part. A weak tea made from the dried root has been used for cardiac diseases and as a vermifuge (an agent that expels parasitic worms). The milky sap is a folk remedy for genital warts. However, both illness and deaths have resulted from use as a medicine.

References

Apocynum cannabinum

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