Indianhemp

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hemp dogbane
• prairie dogbane
• American-hemp
• Indian-hemp
• dogbane
• Black Indian Hemp
• Indian hemp
• amy root
• clasping dogbane
• common dogbane
• rheumatism root
• clasping-leaved dogbane

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Apocynum album
• Apocynum cannabinum f. pennsilvanicum
• Apocynum suksdorfii var. angustifolium
• Apocynum cannabinum var. album
• Apocynum cannabinum var. bolanderi
• Forsteronia pavonii
• Apocynum canadense
• Apocynum cannabinum var. estellinum
• Apocynum bolanderi
• Apocynum cannabinum var. floribundum
• Apocynum breweri
• Apocynum cannabinum var. glaberrimum
• Apocynum bebbianum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. greeneanum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. incanum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. isophyllum
• Apocynum cervinum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. lanceolatum
• Apocynum carolinii
• Apocynum hypericifolium var. nevadense
• Apocynum estellinum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. nemorale
• Apocynum cuspidatum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. oliganthum
• Apocynum densiflorum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. palustre
• Apocynum dictyotum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. puberulum
• Apocynum dimidiatum
• Apocynum cannabinum f. pubescens
• Apocynum macounii
• Apocynum cannabinum var. pubescens
• Apocynum laurinum
• Apocynum cannabinum var. suksdorfii
• Apocynum littorale
• Apocynum longifolium
• Apocynum farwellii f. anomalum
• Apocynum greeneanum
• Apocynum farwellii var. glaucum
• Apocynum isophyllum
• Apocynum farwellii f. ternarium
• Apocynum ithacense
• Apocynum farwellii f. verticillare
• Cynopaema cannabinum
• Apocynum tomentulosum
• Apocynum thermale
• Apocynum pubescens
• Apocynum suksdorfii
• Apocynum purpureum
• Apocynum piscatorium
• Apocynum platyphyllum
• Apocynum procerum
• Apocynum palustre
• Apocynum oliganthum
• Apocynum nevadense
• Apocynum missouriense
• Apocynum nemorale
• Apocynum neogeum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Apocyanaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Apoceun, specifically the species Apoceun cannabinum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad and diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents. In Middle Europe, it can be found within the borders of Germany, while it also inhabits parts of Eastern Europe, specifically Ukraine. Its range extends significantly into the northern reaches of Asia, covering the vast region of West Siberia and parts of Korea in Eastern Asia. Furthermore, the species reaches the northernmost parts of the Western Hemisphere in the Northwest Territories of Subarctic America. This wide dispersal demonstrates the plant's ability to adapt to various climates and environments across the globe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Apocynum cannabinum is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic debris during unfavorable conditions. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and a protective growth form enables the plant to establish stable populations within its natural habitat.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Apocynum cannabinum is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and forb. It typically reaches a plant height with a mean of approximately 1 m. This species is a terrestrial plant, functioning as an independent organism rather than an epiphyte or parasite. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant, exhibiting neither obligatory nor facultative climbing behaviors such as a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Apocynum cannabinum is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy in many temperate dicotyledonous plants where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. This C3 pathway involves the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into a three-carbon molecule, oxaloacetate, which is then processed to produce carbohydrates necessary for the plant's growth and maintenance. Beyond its carbon assimilation mechanisms, the plant exhibits physiological adaptations typical of the Apocynaceae family, including the production of complex secondary metabolites, such as cardiac glycosides and alkaloids, which serve as chemical defense mechanisms against herbivory. Its metabolic processes are closely integrated with its vascular system, facilitating the transport of these bioactive compounds and essential nutrients throughout its tissues to support structural development and reproductive success.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Apocyum cannabinum is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and specialized seed dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in August, though the timing can be variable. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly lightweight profile, exhibiting a mean seed mass of approximately 0.00097015 g. The individual seed mass fluctuates within a narrow range, with a minimum recorded value of 0.0006 g (6e-04 g) and a maximum reaching 0.00178 g. To facilitate the spread of these progeny, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its lightweight seeds away from the parent plant.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass max:

0.00178 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00097015 g

Seed mass min:

6e-04 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Apocynum cannabinum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine
2. Journal of separation science
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Apocynum cannabinum has 54 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Hyperoside, quercetin, Isoquercitrin, CHLOROGENIC ACID.

Flavonoids

1. Scientific reports
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
3. Nutrients
4. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hyperoside

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Scientific reports

quercetin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)
3. Journal of separation science
4. Planta medica

Isoquercitrin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. The Analyst
3. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Journal of separation science

Coumarins

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
2. Nutrients

Hyperin

1. Planta medica
2. The Analyst

Isoquercetin

1. Journal of separation science
2. Planta medica

RUTIN

1. Journal of separation science
2. Scientific reports

(+)-Gallocatechin

1. Planta medica

Activities

Apocynum cannabinum has 105 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antihyperlipidemic, Hepatoprotective, Abortifacient, Analgesic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in nutrition
3. Journal of physiology and biochemistry

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in nutrition

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of physiology and biochemistry

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiEBV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiPGE2

1. Dr. Duke

AntiTGF-beta

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations