Dogbane/Milkweed Family

A couple months ago I saw a family hanging out together. Not people or animals, this family consisted of a dogbane and a milkweed growing up side-by-side; both are in what is colloquially called the dogbane family.

I'm almost certain that the purplish flower buds on the right are from a Common Milkweed, while I'm only reasonably certain that the smaller-leafed guy with whitish flowers are a Hemp Dogbane. Though they are family, I'm sure there's a fierce family rivalry going on here to see which plant gets the most resources and propagates the most future plants. It's not hard to believe these wildflowers are related:

  1. The leaf structure (at least between these 2 species) is similar.
  2. Broken leaves/stems will exude a white, latex-like substance.
  3. They both have a cluster of small flowers (though less densely packed in the dogbane).
  4. Both will produce seed pods with white fluff to catch the wind and distribute the seeds. (The milkweed pod will be quite a bit larger, but there is a similarity in the contents.)
  5. These 2 species (and quite a few of their relatives) are native to my area, are a good source of nectar/pollen, and serve as host plants for some of our native insects. (Like many plant families, they also have relatives that aren't native to my region.)

There are differences though. Dogbane was named due to it being poisonous to dogs, though it's probably poisonous to most mammals. On the other hand, at least Common Milkweed can be eaten. (I wouldn't run out and graze on milkweeds though. I'm not sure the same can be said of Purple Milkweed and other similar-looking relatives of Common Milkweed.)

June 11, 2021 at Washington Valley Park
Photo 136371731, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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