Indian hemp dogbane

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Indian hemp dogbane

Indian hemp dogbane leaves

Indian hemp dogbane fruit

Indian hemp dogbane

Indian hemp dogbane fruit

Indian hemp dogbane

Indian hemp dogbane flowers

Morphology

Stem

Erect, reddish brown, branched above, mostly glabrous, often waxy.

Leaves

Opposite, simple, short-stalked or sessile, ascending to erect, lanceolate-oblong to ovate-oblong, 3/4 to 6 inches long, 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide, glabrous above, sparsely hairy and pale below; margins entire; tips pointed or rounded, terminating in short, flexible points.

Inflorescence

Cymes, dense, terminal.

Flower

Small, erect or drooping; calyx lobes 5, lanceolate, glabrous; corollas bell-shaped, white to greenish white; petals 5, less than 1/5 inch long, united; stamens 5.

Fruit

Pods, slender, 2 to 8 inches long, straight or curved, borne in pairs, drooping or spreading; seeds numerous, reddish brown, tufted with silky hairs at tips.

Ecology

Habitat

Open disturbed sites, waste areas, stream banks, pond edges, and moist lowlands, most abundant on sandy or gravelly soils.

Distribution

Statewide

Practical Information

Toxicity

Indian hemp dogbane is highly poisonous, but livestock rarely consume it because the bitter, milky sap makes it very unpalatable.

Uses

Native Americans used the stem fibers to make thread, cord, bowstrings, and fishing nets. Native Americans and pioneers utilized parts of the plant to create laxatives, cardiac stimulants, respiratory aids, cough medicines, and to make a tea to treat internal parasites.

Additional Notes