(Αποκύνος, of από and κύνος a dog, because the ancients believed this plant would kill dogs), DOGSBANE: A genus of the digynia order, belonging to the pentandria clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 30th order Contortae. The essential characters are: The corolla is bell-shaped; and the filaments are five, alternate with the stamens.
Species. Of this genus botanical writers enumerate 11 species; of which the following are the most remarkable: 1. The venetum, with an upright herbaceous stalk, grows on a small island in the sea near Venice, but is supposed to have been originally brought Apocynum from some other country. There are two varieties of this; one with a purple, and the other with a white flower. The roots creep very much, and by them only it is propagated; for it seldom produces any seeds either in the gardens where it is cultivated, or in those places where it grows naturally. Mr Miller tells us, that he had been assured by a very curious botanist, who resided many years at Venice, and constantly went to the spot several times in the season to procure the seeds, had any been produced, that he never could find any pods formed on the plants. The stalks rise about two feet high, and are garnished with smooth oval leaves placed opposite; the flowers grow at the top of the stalks, in small umbels, and make a very pretty appearance. The flowers appear in July and August.
The speciosissimum, with large flowers, is a native of Jamaica in the savannahs, whence it has the name of Savannah flower, by which it is generally known in that island. This sort rises three or four feet high, having woody stalks which send out a few lateral branches, garnished with smooth oval leaves placed by pairs opposite, of a shining green colour on their upper sides, but pale and veined underneath. The flowers are produced from the sides of the branches, upon long footstalks: there are commonly four or five buds at the end of each; but there is seldom more than one of them which comes to the flower. The flower is very large, having a long tube which spreads open wide at the top, of a bright yellow, and makes a fine appearance, especially in those places where the plants grow, naturally, being most part of the year in flower.
3. Cordatum with a climbing stalk. These were discovered at La Vera Cruz in New Spain, by Dr William Houston, who sent their seeds to England. They are both climbers and mount to the tops of the tallest trees. In England they have climbed over plants in the stoves, and risen to upwards of 20 feet high. The third sort has produced flowers several times; but the fourth never showed an appearance of any.
Culture. The first sort is hardy enough to live in England in the open air, provided it is planted in a warm situation and dry soil. It is propagated, as we have already observed, by its creeping roots; the best time for removing and planting which is in the spring, just before they begin to push out new stalks. The other sorts are propagated by seeds, but are so tender as to require being kept constantly in a stove.
Properties. All the species of this plant abound with a milky juice, which flows out from any part of their stalks and leaves when they are broken: this is generally supposed to be hurtful if taken inwardly, but doth not blister the skin when applied to it as the juice of spurge and other acrid plants. The pods of all the sorts are filled with seeds, which are for the most part compressed and lie over one another imbrication, like the tiles of a house; these have each a long plume of a cottony down fastened to their crowns, by which when the pods are ripe and open, the seeds are wafted by the wind to a considerable distance, so that the plants become very troublesome weeds. This down is in great esteem in France, for stuffing of easy chairs, making quilts, &c. for it is exceedingly light and elastic. It is called by the French delawood; and might probably become a vendible commodity in England, were people attentive to the collecting of it in Jamaica where Apocynum plants are found in plenty.