Apocynum venetum


Apocynum venetum, commonly known as sword-leaf dogbane, is a plant species in the dogbane family, poisonous but used as a source of fiber, medicine, and nectar for production of honey. Apocynum venetum leaves have been used in the traditional medicine for hypertension treatment.

Distribution

Apocynum venetum is considered to be native to a wide range in northern Asia and SE Europe: Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Siberia, Central Asia, Iran, Iraq, Cyprus, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, and Japan.

Uses

Apocynum venetum fibers can be extracted from the A. venetum bast; these fibers possess the luster of silk, smoothness of ramie, malleability of cashmere, and the softness of cotton.

Subspecies

Subspecies include:
  1. Apocynum venetum subsp. armenum ined. - Turkey, Iran, Caucasus
  2. Apocynum venetum subsp. basikurumon ined. - Japan
  3. Apocynum venetum subsp. lancifolium ined. - Siberia, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
  4. Apocynum venetum subsp. russanovii ined. - Ostriv Dzharylhach Peninsula in Ukraine
  5. Apocynum venetum subsp. sarmatiense ined. - Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Caucasus
  6. Apocynum venetum subsp. scabrum ined. - Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan
  7. Apocynum venetum subsp. tauricum ined. - Cape St. Ilya in Crimea
  8. Apocynum venetum subsp. venetum - Italy