Spreading dogbane
General poisoning notes:
Spreading dogbane
(Apocynum androsaemifolium) is a native herb found across Canada. This
plant has been reported to cause serious poisoning potential in cattle, horses,
and sheep after ingestion (Johnson and Archer 1922). This information was
credited to a report from the Arizona Experiment Station and to an article that
was erroneously stated to be about Apocynum. However, that article
actually concerned Nerium
(oleander) poisoning of livestock. Therefore, the various signs and symptoms
attributed to dogbane poisoning since 1922 are usually based on this mistake
(Kingsbury 1959).
Description
Erect stem with
many branches spreading from ground. Milky sap oozes when stem is cut. Leaves
opposite on stems, 1 1/2–2 1/2 in. long, with petioles shorter than blade. Leaf
blade widely oval, with rounded tip, somewhat drooping to horizontal, dark
green above, lighter below. Flowers in terminal clusters, small, bell-shaped,
pink, rose, or white with pink stripes; lobes spreading or curved backward.
Grows in rocky places, dry open areas in conifer forests and adjacent
shrub-steppe and prairies, at low to subalpine elevations.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Apocynum androsaemifolium L.
Vernacular
name(s): spreading dogbane
Scientific family
name: Apocynaceae
Vernacular family
name: dogbane
Geographic Information
Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova
Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory.
Toxic parts:
Rhizome.
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Experimental
evidence shows that spreading dogbane contains apocynamarin, a cardiac
glycoside, as well as other glycosides and resins. These chemicals have caused
sickness and death when administered cats and dogs. The potential for poisoning
therefore exists (Moore
Toxic plant chemicals:
Apocynamarin.
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an
animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993)
contained no detailed explanation.
Cats
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Blood
pressure, high, death.
Dogs
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Death,
vomiting.
Horses
Humans
General symptoms of
poisoning:
Convulsions,
death, diarrhea, sweating, urination, frequent, vomiting.
Notes on poisoning:
The root of
spreading dogbane has been used for medicinal purposes. Excessive doses of the
extracts apparently cause sickness and death in humans (Fleurbec 1981).
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