dogbane

[ dawg-beyn, dog- ]

noun

1. any of several plants of the genus Apocynum, especially A. androsaemifolium, yielding an acrid milky juice and having an intensely bitter root.

dogbane

/ ˈdɒɡˌbeɪn /

noun

1. any of several North American apocynaceous plants of the genus Apocynum, esp A. androsaemifolium, having bell-shaped white or pink flowers: thought to be poisonous to dogs

Word History and Origins

Origin of dogbane¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; dog + bane

Example Sentences

Vinca, ving′ka, n. a genus of woody herbaceous plants of the dogbane family, the periwinkles.

From Project Gutenberg

Allied to the milkweed is another plant, the dogbane (Apocynum), which has a similar trick of entrapping its insect friends.

From Project Gutenberg

Apocynum androsmifolium (spreading dogbane), Kineo (Bradford).

From Project Gutenberg

The larva of this insect feeds on most of the different kinds of milkweed (Asclepias), and also upon dogbane (Apocynum).

From Project Gutenberg

The small pink flowers of the spreading dogbane may be found all through the summer, often upon our driest hillsides.

From Project Gutenberg