The Dogbane Family

Apocynaceae is Greek for "away-dog", since some taxa were used historically as dog poison. Many species have a milky latex sap, and most are toxic if consumed. Milkweeds, dogbanes, oleanders, and periwinkles are all in this family. Many members of this family are actually tropical trees, but in temperate North America, we mostly have forbs and some shrubs. Milkweeds are critical hosts for monarchs.