Fly-trap dogbane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Spreading dogbane
Apocynum androsaemifolium var. androsaemifolium alongside the first part of the South Loop trail, Kyle Canyon, Spring Mountains, southern Nevada (elev. about 2400 m)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Apocynum
Species:	androsaemifolium
Synonyms
Cynopaema androsaemifolium (L.) Lunell Apocynum ambigens Greene Apocynum macranthum Rydb. Apocynum griseum Greene Apocynum muscipulum Moench Apocynum clandestinum Raf. Apocynum rhomboideum Greene Apocynum scopulorum Greene ex Rydb. Apocynum silvaticum Greene Apocynum tomentellum Greene Apocynum arcuatum Greene Apocynum cinereum A.Heller Apocynum diversifolium Greene Apocynum polycardium Greene Apocynum pulchellum Greene

Apocynum androsaemifolium, the fly-trap dogbane or spreading dogbane, is a flowering plant in the Gentianales order.

The plant is common in North America, and is widespread across most of the United States and Canada, and in Alaska, California, and northeast Mexico.

Description

Apocynum androsaemifolium has branching stems, hairs on the underside of the leaves, and no hair on the stems. Milky sap appears on broken stems.

Leaf margin is entire and leaf venation is alternate. Its leaves appear as pointed ovals, while its flowers appear terminally on a stalk.

The plant is poisonous due to the cardiac glycosides and resins it contains.

Subspecies and varieties

Subspecies and varieties include:

1. Apocynum androsaemifolium subsp. androsaemifolium - E Canada, W United States
2. Apocynum androsaemifolium var. griseum (Greene) Bég. & Belosersky - Ontario, British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan
3. Apocynum androsaemifolium var. incanum A.DC. - widespread in Canada, United States, NE Mexico
4. Apocynum androsaemifolium var. intermedium Woodson - Colorado
5. Apocynum androsaemifolium subsp. pumilum (A.Gray) B.Boivin - British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, California, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada
6. Apocynum androsaemifolium var. tomentellum (Greene) B.Boivin - British Columbia, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada
7. Apocynum androsaemifolium var. woodsonii B.Boivin - Alberta, British Columbia, Washington State, Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho

Uses

Native Americans used spreading dogbane in numerous ways. The plant was used as a medicine to treat ailments including headaches, convulsions, ear ache, heart palpitations, colds, insanity, dizziness, rheumatism, and scrofula. Among the Ojibwe, the root was used as a gynecological, oral, and throat aid, as well as an analgesic for headaches and a diuretic during pregnancy. The Ojibwe also consumed the root of the plant during the medicine lodge ceremony. The Forest Potawatomi made medicinal use of the roots as well, and the Prairie Potawatomi used the plant’s fruits to treat heart and kidney problems. The stem fibers of the plant are very strong,. and Native Americans used them as a thread for sewing. Outside of the Americas, spreading dogbane was also used to treat heart disease in Europe during the first half of the twentieth century.

See also

In Spanish: Apocynum androsaemifolium para niños