Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum, Sp. Pl.: 213 (1753))

Family: Apocynaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 213 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Apocynum

Vegetable: False

Observations: Canada to U.S.A.

Description

Indian-hemp, also known by its scientific name Apocynum cannabinum, is a fascinating perennial plant native to North America, found extensively from Canada down to the United States. This robust herb is a member of the Apocynaceae family, which encompasses a wide variety of flowering plants.

Historically, Indian-hemp has thrived in a multitude of environments, ranging from the wetlands and riverbanks to dry and rocky terrains. Its ability to adapt to such diverse habitats is a testament to its resilience and versatility. The plant typically grows to a height of about 1-2 meters and is characterized by its slender, branched stems and opposite, lance-shaped leaves, which give it a distinctive appearance.

Flowering from June to August, Indian-hemp produces small, white to greenish-white flowers that are clustered in terminal or axillary cymes. These blooms eventually give way to paired, slender seedpods that contain numerous fine, silk-tufted seeds, facilitating wind dispersal. The flowers, though not particularly showy, play a crucial role in the local ecosystem by providing nectar for various pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

One striking feature of Apocynum cannabinum is its latex-containing sap. This milky substance exudes from the plant when it is cut or damaged, serving as a defense mechanism against herbivores. However, it is important to note that this sap can be toxic if ingested and may cause skin irritation upon contact.

Indian-hemp has a rich ethnobotanical history. Indigenous peoples of North America extensively utilized the plant for various purposes. The fibrous stems were particularly valued for their strength and durability, and were processed to create cordage, nets, and textiles. The plant was also used medicinally; various parts of Indian-hemp were employed to prepare remedies for ailments ranging from digestive issues to respiratory problems.

Despite its historical utility, caution is warranted when handling or using Indian-hemp today, both due to its toxic properties and the potential for environmental impacts should it become weedy or invasive in certain areas.

In summary, Apocynum cannabinum, or Indian-hemp, is a resilient and multifaceted plant with a significant historical role among Indigenous cultures in North America. Its adaptability to different environments and its various uses underscore its importance, even as modern awareness of its toxic properties advises careful handling.

Common Names

Eng: american-hemp, common dogbane, dogbane, hemp dogbane, indian hemp, indian-hemp, prairie dogbane, clasping-leaved dogbane, velvet dogbane
Deu: hanf-hundsgift, amerikanisches hundsgift
Spa: cáñamo indio
Swe: indianhampa
Fra: apocyn chanvrin
En: Indian-hemp, Hemp dogbane, American-hemp, Dogbane, Indianhemp, Indian hemp, Indianhemp dogbane, PRAIRIE DOGBANE, Common dogbane, Clasping-leaved dogbane, Velvet dogbane
Ar: أبوسينوم كانابيوم
Az: Kənafabənzər kəndir
Zh: 夹竹桃麻
Eo: Kanaba apocino
Fr: Apocyn chanvrin
De: Amerikanisches Hundsgift, Hundsgift, Indianischer Hanf, Hanf-Hundsgift
Mk: Конопен кучешки чемер
Ru: Кутра коноплёвая
Es: Cáñamo indio
Sv: Indianhampa
Uk: Кутра конопляна

Synonyms

• Apocynum cinereum (Nieuwl.)
• Apocynum littorale (Greene)
• Apocynum greeneanum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. greeneanum ((Bég. & Belosersky) Woodson)
• Apocynum missouriense (Greene)
• Apocynum hypericifolium (Aiton)
• Apocynum cordigerum (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. incanum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum pubescens (Mitch. ex R.Br.)
• Apocynum farwellii f. anomalum (Farw.)
• Apocynum sibiricum f. arenarium ((Greene) Fernald)
• Apocynum salignum (Greene)
• Apocynum sibiricum var. farwellii ((Greene) Woodson)
• Apocynum procerum (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum f. arenarium ((Greene) B.Boivin)
• Apocynum suksdorfii (Greene)
• Apocynum farwellii var. glaucum (Farw.)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. bolanderi ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum carolinii (Nieuwl.)
• Apocynum laurinum (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. estellinum ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum cervinum (Greene)
• Apocynum farwellii f. verticillare (Farw.)
• Apocynum ithacense (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum f. pennsilvanicum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum estellinum (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. palustre (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum breweri (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum f. pubescens ((Mitch. ex R.Br.) Voss)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. oblongum ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum longifolium (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. suksdorfii ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Cynopaema hypericifolium ((Aiton) Lunell)
• Apocynum platyphyllum (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. album ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum oblongum (Greene)
• Apocynum nemorale (G.S.Mill.)
• Apocynum purpureum (Tausch)
• Apocynum hypericifolium f. arenarium ((Greene) F.C.Gates)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. lanceolatum (Durand & Hilg.)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. myrianthum ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. farwellii ((Greene) Woodson)
• Apocynum dictyotum (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. nemorale ((G.S.Mill.) Fernald)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. floribundum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. glaberrimum (A.DC.)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. hypericifolium ((Aiton) A.Gray)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. isophyllum ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum oliganthum (Greene)
• Apocynum album (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. angustifolium (N.H.Holmgren)
• Apocynum sibiricum var. cordigerum ((Greene) Fernald)
• Apocynum sibiricum var. salignum ((Greene) Fernald)
• Apocynum palustre (Greene)
• Apocynum subuligerum (Greene)
• Apocynum suksdorfii var. angustifolium ((Bég. & Belosersky) Woodson)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. typicum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum piscatorium (Douglas ex A.DC)
• Apocynum farwellii (Greene)
• Apocynum isophyllum (Greene)
• Apocynum macounii (Greene ex Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum dimidiatum (Raf.)
• Apocynum farwellii f. ternarium (Farw.)
• Apocynum cannabinum subsp. cordigerum ((Greene) Á.Löve & D.Löve)
• Apocynum bebbianum (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. puberulum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Cynopaema cannabinum ((L.) Lunell)
• Apocynum bolanderi (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. pubescens ((Mitch. ex R.Br.) A.DC.)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. salignum ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. typicum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum cuspidatum (Greene ex Bég. & Belosersky)
• Forsteronia pavonii (A.DC.)
• Apocynum canadense (Shecut)
• Apocynum thermale (Greene)
• Apocynum nevadense (Goodd.)
• Apocynum tomentulosum (Nieuwl.)
• Apocynum neogeum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum venetum (A.DC.)
• Apocynum myrianthum (Greene)
• Apocynum densiflorum (Greene)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. cordigerum ((Greene) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum suksdorfii var. typicum (Greene)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. angustifolium (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. nevadense ((Goodd.) Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum arenarium (Greene)
• Apocynum cannabinum var. oliganthum (Bég. & Belosersky)
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. intermedium (Bég. & Belosersky)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• California (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Delaware (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• Texas (native)
• Utah (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Korea (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Sep 17, 2015 by EOL − laurenupadhyay (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 6, 2017 by Tela Botanica − _ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 21, 2021 by MKJL Property (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2022 by Avery Mandigo (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jun 30, 2021 by u u (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2022 by Ryan Heaney (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2019 by Annie lambcfam (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 24, 2019 by Botanist Massachusetts (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 18, 2021 by Feya Sterling (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 26, 2015 by EOL − botany08 (cc-by)

Taken Jun 6, 2003 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2017 by Tela Botanica − _ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2022 by Łukasz Łukasiński (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 18, 2021 by Feya Sterling (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 10, 2015 by EOL − yaoshawn (cc-by-nc)

Taken Aug 14, 2022 by Ellen Jean (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 16, 2020 by Gail (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 14, 2021 by SunriseRacine (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 17, 2021 by aj (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jun 6, 2003 by EOL − Steven J. Baskauf (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2022 by megan allsup (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2021 by u u (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 14, 2021 by Maxwell Fowler (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 1, 2021 by Ruthann Pickerd (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 11, 2018 by Lisa J (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2019 by max (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2019 by Miguel Denyer (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 21, 2022 by krunk lama (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2021 by u u (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3169790)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:16527-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Apocynum cannabinum L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Single Stem

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.0

Ph minimum: 4.5