Wildlife Gardening/Taxon/Apocynum cannabinum

thumb|Flower and leaves. Apocynum cannabinum also known as Native_American_name_controversy#%22Indian%22_and_%22American_Indian%22_(since_1492) Indian hemp or dogbane an herbaceous plant widely distributed across Location North America. It can be found from southern Canada south through the continental United States, especially in coarse, moist soils. It serves as a host plant to hummingbird moths and provides nectar for many other insects. All parts of the plant are poisonous and can cause cardiac arrest if ingested. It is also toxic to dogs and livestock. Nomenclature Apocynum cannabinum (dogbane, amy root, hemp dogbane, prairie dogbane, Indian hemp, rheumatism root, or wild cotton). Apocynum album, A. angustifolium, A. arenarium, A. bebbianum, A. bolanderi, A. breweri, A. canadense, A. carolinii, A. cervinum, A. cinereum, A. cordigerum, A. cuspidatum, A. densiflorum, A. dictyotum, A. dimidiatum, A. estellinum, A. farwellii, A. greeneanum, A. hypericifolium, A. isophyllum, A. ithacense, A. laurinum, A. littorale, A. longifolium, A. macounii, A. missouriense, A. myrianthum, A. nemorale, A. neogeum, A. nevadense, A. oblongum, A. oliganthum, A. palustre, A. piscatorium, A. platyphyllum, A. procerum, A. pubescens, A. purpureum, A. salignum, A. sibiricum, A. subuligerum, A. suksdorfii, A. thermale, A. tomentulosum, A. venetum, Cynopaema cannabinum, Cynopaema hypericifolium, Forsteronia pavonii, Description Apocynum cannabinum grows up to 2 m feet tall. The stems are reddish and contain a milky latex capable of causing skin blisters. The leaves are opposite, simple broad lanceolate, 7 – 15 cm in 4 long and 3 – 5 cm in 4 broad, entire, and smooth on top with white hairs on the underside. It flowers from July to August, has large sepals, and a five-lobed white corolla. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by moths and butterflies. Gallery Identification Identification The monarch is closely related to several similar-looking butterfly species whose ranges abut or overlap with its own. It also has a Müllerian mimicry Müllerian mimic, the viceroy, whose similar toxicity and coloration discourages predators from hunting either species. Taxa similar to monarchs Similar caterpillar Similar chrysalis Similar adult Distinctions thumb|center|upright|Taxon Danaus erippus, or southern monarch. Caterpillar pictured. thumb|center|upright|D. erippus chrysalis. thumb|center|upright|D. erippus adult. Brief note on connection between taxon and article taxon, caterpillar distinctions, chrysalis distinctions, adult distinctions. Encourage Discourage Antagonistic arthropod taxa Antagonistic arthropods of monarchs Taxon Behavior Food Reproduction Safety Water Notes thumb|center|upright|Taxon Harmonia axyridis, the Asian ladybeetle. Color variations pictured. The Asian ladybeetle will eat very young caterpillars as both larvae and adults.Koch R. L. W. D. Hutchison R. C. Venette G. E. Heimpel October 2003 Susceptibility of immature monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Danainae), to predation by Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Biological Control 28 2 265–270 10.1016/S1049-9644(03)00102-6 Information on native range or any other factor that might influence monarchs' likelihood of attracting this species to a garden. thumb|center|upright|Taxon Hymenoptera, the order including wasps. Taxon Vespula maculifrons, or the eastern yellowjacket pictured. A variety of wasps will prey upon caterpillars.It's the first bites that count: Survival of first-instar monarchs on milkweeds Austral Ecology 2001 26 5 547–555 10.1046/j.1442-9993.2001.01132.x Zalucki Myron P. Malcolm Stephen B. Paine Timothy D. Hanlon Christopher C. Brower Lincoln P. Clarke Anthony R. Information on native range or any other factor that might influence monarchs' likelihood of attracting this species to a garden. thumb|center|upright|Taxon Tenodera sinensis, the Chinese mantis. Male pictured. Preys upon caterpillars and avoids being poisoned by not eating its prey's digestive tract and the processed milkweed material it contains.Rafter Jamie Anurag Agruwal Evan Preisser Chinese mantids gut caterpillars: avoidance of prey defense? 10.1111/j.1365-2311.2012.01408.x Ecological Entomology 38 2013 1 78–82 Information on native range or any other factor that might influence monarchs' likelihood of attracting this species to a garden. Utilize For taxa whose presence in the garden is encouraged without being harmed by article taxon use tables like above but from the pov of the attracted taxon Beneficiary lepidopterans of Indian hemp Taxon Behavior Food Reproduction Safety Water Notes thumb|center|upright=0.5|Taxon Cycnia tenera, or dogbane tiger moth. Adult pictured. Caterpillar host plant. Information on native range, cultivation requirements, bloom time and any other criteria that might lead a gardener to select this species over the others. thumb|center|upright|Taxon Danaus plexippus, or monarch. Adult male pictured. Nectar source.Iftner, David C.; Shuey, John A. and Calhoun, John C. (1992). Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio. College of Biological Sciences and The Ohio State University. 0-86727-107-8 Information on native range, cultivation requirements, bloom time and any other criteria that might lead a gardener to select this species over the others. thumb|center|upright|Taxon Hemaris diffinis, the snowberry clearwing. Adult pictured. Caterpillar host plant. Information on native range, cultivation requirements, bloom time and any other criteria that might lead a gardener to select this species over the others. thumb|center|upright=0.5|Taxon Hemaris thysbe, the hummingbird clearwing. Adult pictured. Caterpillar host plant. Information on native range, cultivation requirements, bloom time and any other criteria that might lead a gardener to select this species over the others. thumb|center|upright|Taxon Marmara apocynella. Adult pictured. Caterpillar host plant. Information on native range, cultivation requirements, bloom time and any other criteria that might lead a gardener to select this species over the others. thumb|center|upright|Taxon Melanchra picta, or zebra caterpillar. Caterpillar pictured. Caterpillar host plant. Information on native range, cultivation requirements, bloom time and any other criteria that might lead a gardener to select this species over the others. References Apocynum cannabinum Apocynum cannabinum Apocynum cannabinum Apocynum cannabinum Apocynum cannabinum Category:Book:Wildlife Gardening taxa