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Apocynum androsaemifolium L.
Spreading dogbane
Spreading dogbane is related to milkweeds and, like milkweeds, exudes a milky sap when
leaves and stems are broken. The foreboding name dogbane comes from
its strong toxicity, to people as well as dogs. Dogbane is a North America native plant.
Plants: Shrubby, up to 4′ (1.2 m) in height.
Stems are branching, smooth or slightly hairy, round, light green, dark red, or purple.
Leaves: Opposite, roughly oval-shaped, with pointed
tips and smooth edges, green on top and pale green below.
Flowers: White to pink or with pink-striped
interiors, about ¼″ (6.3 mm) around, tubular
to bell-shaped, with five flared petals. They are fragrant and occur in clusters at the tips of
branches. They remind me a little of blueberry flowers.
Fruits: Each flower produces two slender pods that release
numerous small tufted seeds spread by the wind.
Habitats: Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), forest edges, meadows and fields, shores of rivers or lakes, woodlands
Edibility: Poisonous Potent, intensely bitter alkaloids apocynamarin or cymarin depress heart rate and act on the vaso-motor system.
Apocynum ambigens Greene Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. glabrum Macoun Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. griseum (Greene) Bég. & Beloserky Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. intermedium Woodson Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. incanum A. DC. Apocynum androsaemifolium L. ssp. pumilum (A. Gray) B. Boivin Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. pumilum A. Gray Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. tomentellum (Greene) B. Boivin Apocynum androsaemifolium L. var. woodsonii B. Boivin Apocynum pumilum (A. Gray) Greene Apocynum pumilum (A. Gray) Greene var. rhomboideum (Greene) Bég. & Beloserky Apocynum scopulorum Greene ex Rydb.
8/20/2025 · Peaks Island, Maine · ≈ 5 × 5″ (13 × 13 cm)
6/27/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 3½″ (8 × 9.4 cm)
From Greek apo, “away from;” and kyon or kunos, “dog”: noxious to dogs, for its ancient use as a dog poison
Species
androsaemifolium
With leaves like Androsaemum, which derives from the Greek name Androsaimon, which in turn is derived from andros, “man,” and haima, “blood,” in reference to its blood-red sap or juice
Potent, intensely bitter alkaloids apocynamarin or cymarin depress heart rate and act on the vaso-motor system. 
ID is uncertain 
