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Photographer: Merel R. Black
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Family Apocynaceae
Apocynum androsaemifolium L.
spreading dogbane
Apocynum: from the Greek for "away from dog," i.e. noxious to dogs, in reference to its ancient use as a dog poison, hence dogbane
androsaemifolium: with leaves of Androsaemum
Hazardous 
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 8"-32" tall forb, clone-forming, milky juice; many branches, often with no main stem |
| Flower: | pink marked with red inside, 5-parted, 1/4"-3/8" wide, bell- shaped, nodding, petals spreading or curved backward; inflorescence a branched cluster (cyme), main cyme terminal, others from the upper leaf axils; blooms June-Aug. |
| Fruit: | paired, long, very narrow pod with seeds on silky hair |
| Leaf: | opposite, stalked, mostly drooping, 1.3"- 3.5" long, usually with hairs below |
| Habitat: | upland woods |
| Notes: | tough, fibrous inner bark used for cordage by Native Americans; hybrids common |
| (Glossary) |
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