|
|
|
|
|
|
| Practical ecological knowledge for the temperate reader. |
Apocynum androsaemifolium - Spreading Dogbane
- Family: (Apocynaceae)
- Cardiac glycosides Fiber, Latex Dropsy, Syphilis
Identification
- General: "Perennial herb from a rhizome; stems erect, glabrous or hairy, often reddish, 20-70 cm tall, branching; plants with milky juice." [IFBC-E-flora]
- Leaves: "Stem leaves opposite, spreading and drooping, narrow, oval to elliptic, short-stalked, 3-8 cm long, glabrous above, usually hairy beneath." [IFBC-E-flora]
- Flowers: "Inflorescence of compound, flat-topped clusters; corollas pink or whitish with white veins, sweet scented, 4-10 mm long." [IFBC-E-flora]
- Fruits: "Long cylindric pods, 5-12 cm long, seeds numerous with long tufts of cottony hairs (coma)." [IFBC-E-flora]
- Notes:
- Two varieties occur in BC:
- 1. Corollas bell-shaped, 5-10 mm long; pods drooping..................... var. androsaemifolium
- 1. Corollas more tubular, 4-7 mm long; pods usually erect........................ var. pumilum A. Gray [IFBC-E-flora]
- Habitat/Range: "Dry roadsides, fields, meadows and open forests in the lowland to subalpine zones; common throughout BC except the Queen Charlotte Islands and adjacent coast; N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to GA, TX, NM and CA." [IFBC-E-flora]
- Status: Native [E-flora]
- Ecological Indicator Information: "A shade-intolerant, submontane to montane, transcontinental North American forb distributed more in the Cordilleran than the Pacific region. Occurs on very dry to moderately dry, nitrogen-medium soils within boreal, temperate, and cool mesothermal climates. Its occurrence increases with increasing continentality and temperature, and decreases with increasing elevation and precipitation. Usually inhabits unshaded and strongly drained, watershedding sites with exposed mineral soil or thin Mor humus forms. Characteristic of moisture-deficient sites." [IPBC-E-flora]
Hazards
Possibly Toxic
"All the dogbanes are poisonous and have sometimes caused serious losses to livestock. Apparently the sticky, milky juice helps to render them unpalatable, since animals seldom eat the plants fresh, although they do sometimes consume them dry in hay. However, deaths to livestock from eating dogbane are rare. All species of dogbane should be avoided as food.[Harrington] All parts of the plant are poisonous[1, 62]." [PFAF]
"Moore (1979) states that A. cannabinum is significantly more dangerous than A. androsaemifolium, and that the plants are not to be used interchangeably. Duke (1985) concurs that the two plants must not be confused." [Pendell PPPHC]
"In spite of the widespread use of Apocynum androsaemifolium by American Indian tribes for a wide variety of ailments, Duke states frankly that he is afraid of this cardiotonic plant. As Duke's many years of research have proved him to be a man not easily frightened, I have put my own longstanding interest in both of these plants on hold, pending more chemical and biological studies." [Pendell PPPHC]
Other Uses
- Fibre: "The bark yields a good quality fibre that is used for making twine, bags, linen etc[4, 99, 155, 257]. It is inferior to Apocynum cannabinum [99]. The fibre is finer and stronger than cotton[207]. It can be harvested after the leaves fall in the autumn but is probably at its best as the seed pods are forming[169]." [PFAF]
- Latex: "The plant yields a latex, which is a possible source of rubber[46, 61]. It is obtained by making incisions on the stem and resembles indiarubber when dry[4]." [PFAF] "This species was not mentioned in any of the Vancouver Island Salish literature, but Haskin (1934) states that the stems contain a strong durable fiber which, like that of A. cannabinum, was used by some Indian groups. The Thompson Interior Salish used it for making nets and twine (Steedman, 1929)." [Turner&Bell1]
Medicinal Uses
"Spreading dogbane is an unpleasantly bitter stimulant irritant herb that acts on the heart, respiratory and urinary systems, and also on the uterus[238]. 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[257]. It should be used with great caution, and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner if taking this plant internally[21, 238]. [PFAF] Used "For rheumatism, scrofula and syphilis." [CRNAH]
- Root: "The root contains cymarin, a cardioactive glycoside that is toxic to ruminants[222]. 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 [4]." [PFAF] "The majority of the Forest Potawatomi used the root of Spreading Dogbane as a diuretic and urinary medicine, although Mrs. Spoon and the Prairie Potawatomi informant called it a heart and kidney medicine and used the green fruits, which they boiled to extract the active principle. Nickell46 says that this plant has similar properties to the official Apocynum cannabinum L., which is used as a diuretic and in cardiac and renal dropsy." [HuronSmith Zuni]
- Contraceptive: The roots were boiled in water and the water drunk once a week in order to prevent conception[213]. [PFAF]
- Smoke: "Natives of North America inhaled the fumes of burning dried roots for the relief of headaches (Krochmal and Krochmal 1973). Similarly, the Pillager Ojibwa, also of North America, inhaled the smoke from burning roots for headaches (Smith 1932). The Chippewa of North America inhaled the fumes of powdered root to relieve headache or for mouth twitches (Densmore 1974)." [UAPDS]
- Syphilis: "The juice of the fresh root has been used in the treatment of syphilis[207]." [PFAF]
- Warts: "The sap of the plant has been applied externally to get rid of warts[257]." [PFAF]
- Fruits: "The green fruits were boiled and the decoction used in the treatment of heart and kidney problems and for the treatment of dropsy[213]. This preparation can irritate the intestines and cause unpleasant side-effects[213]." [PFAF]
- Leaves: "The leaves are used as a medicine for babies when they have the colic." [HuronSmith Winnebago]
Phytochemicals
- "Glucoside apocynamarin, a bitter principle cymarin, apocynein, apocynin, volatile oils, fixed oils, caoutchouc.100" [CRNAH]
- Cymarose - Apocynum cannabinum L., A. androsaemifolium L., A. venetum L. [PCPB]
- "Apocynin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-acetophenone) is isolated from the root of Picrorhiza kurroa, a creeping plant native to the mountains of India, Nepal, Tibet, and Pakistan. Apocynin may also be obtained from other sources, for example the rhizome of Canadian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum), and other Apocynum species (e.g., A. androsaemifolium)." [Benzie HM]
- Androsin - Putative Anti-asthmatic Compound - Root [MPUC Trivedi]
Pharmacology
- Listed, along with A. canabinum, as "Herbs with digoxin-like substances or effects." [PTH]
- "The root is cardiotonic, cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and expectorant[1, 4, 21, 61, 222]." [PFAF]
- "The root extract has been used among white men as an emetic, cathartic, sudorific and expectorant." [HuronSmith Zuni]
- "Also, the plant is said to have narcotic properties (Claus and Tyler, 1967) and may have been used in this connection. Paul (1968) recognized it, but didn't know of any uses for it by the Saanich." [Turner&Bell1]
- "Millspaugh (1974) describes spreading dogbane as an emetic without causing nausea, a cathartic, and a quite powerful diuretic and sudorific; it is also an expectorant and antisyphilitic." [Vizgirdas WPSN]
Uses of other species
Identification and Taxonomic Notes
1. Corollas greenish-white to white, 2-4.5 mm long, usually less than twice as long as the calyces; leaves ascending................. Apocynum cannabinum
1. Corollas pinkish, 3.5-10 mm long, usually more than twice as long as the calyces; leaves spreading to drooping.
-
2. Calyces usually at least half as long as the corollas, lobes abruptly sharp-pointed to long-pointed ............................
Apocynum x floribundum
2. Calyces usually less than half as long as the corollas, lobes obtuse .....................Apocynum androsaemifolium
Local Species;
- Apocynum androsaemifolium - Spreading Dogbane
- Apocynum cannabinum - Hemp Dogbane
- Apocynum x floribundum - Western Dogbane
"Dogbanes [Apocynum L. spp.] are creeping-rooted, erect and branching perennials. They have oblong or
lanceolate opposite leaves and clusters of small, pink, bell-shaped flowers which produce
long, slender pods containing numerous seeds with tufts of silky hairs. The stems and
leaves contain a milky latex. Dogbanes are commonly found on abandoned fields, road
cuts, dry meadows and open wooded areas. They generally occur on sandy or gravelly
soils, especially in pine forests. Dogbanes contain several toxic cardiac glycosides,
including cymarin, which affect the excitability of the cardiac muscle. Animals may die
of cardiac failure. The plants are unpalatable, and ingestion is unlikely except when
animals are starving." [Majak SPPWC]
- Apocynum reticulatum "Linn. Apocynaceae. DOGBANE. East Indies. According to Unger, this plant furnishes a food" [Sturtevant EPW]
- Apocynum venetum - Luo Bu Ma; Used to "Increase myocardial contractility, lower blood pressure, increase bronchial secretion, diuretic." [CRNAH] "apocynins A–D... were identified in Apocynum venetum." [Andersen FCBA]
- Leaf: Temperature & Tastes: Sl Cold, Sweet, Bitter, Bland, Astringent. Channels; Liv. Functions; Smoothes Liver, Clears heat, Lowers blood pressure, Strengthens Heart, Promotes urination. Indications; Hypertension due to Liver Yang rising or Liver heat, Edema/difficult urination. Dosages & Notes: 3–10 g. Add last 10 min of decoction. [Liu CHB] Contains flavonols and biflavonoids [Ramawat NP] hypotensive [Zhen Tea] "Dogbane Leaf It is the leaf of Apocynum venetum L. (Apocynaceae). Effect. Calming the liver, allaying the mind, removing heat and promoting diuresis. Indication. Palpitation, insomnia, hyperactivity ofthe liver-yang, dizziness, relieving cough and dyspnea, headache and edema." [Xinrong TCM]
References
Page last modified on
Thursday, June 11, 2020 6:39 AM
