Apocynaceae / Apocynum spp. (A. androsaemifolium, A. cannabinum) / Dogbane

If there has been one thing I’ve taken from @Bluewindschool (although lets be real, I’ve learned a lot); it’s the absolute importance of learning one’s local toxic and deadly plants. Especially when those toxic plants might have edible or medicinal look-similars.

So with that said, lets meet Apocynum / Dogbane. Here in the Sierra Nevada, we have two species, the Spreading Apocynum androsaemifolium and the Hemp Apocynum cannabinum. Between the two, the main difference is growing habit. A. androsaemifolium grows roughly prostrate (flat) along the ground while A. cannabinum grows mostly erect with some branching (one of many important distinctions from our Asclepias spp. / Milkweeds.

Hemp, the taller of the two, can reach heights of up to 5’ while the Spreading stays hovering around a foot or two. Each have forking, reddish stems holding opposite and drooping leaves ranging in shape from egg-like to round. Flowers are pinkish to white and pleasantly scented.

In the shoot stage, they bear close resemblance to some of our delicious aforementioned milkweeds. While at maturity and in flower they are easy to differentiate; it is difficult to tell the difference when young. The best distinguishing feature being a dense felty coating of minute hairs on the leaves and stems of milkweed, and the presence of glaucus bloom on dogbane stems.

On the consumption note, an additional distinguishing feature include an extreme bitterness. Dogbanes contain several glycosides and have cardiac effects, but the unpleasant taste generally prevents consumption sufficient to cause serious poisoning. The bitter, milky sap contains proteolytic enzymes which can cause a rash in some individuals and can be extremely detrimental with eye contact.

Beyond that, the flowers make an excellent grade of honey and attract a wide range of butterflies, parasitoid and predatory insects. Stems of the appropriately named Hemp species are collected after the first frost for string.