Flora Pittsburghensis.

Apocynaceae.

Dogbane Family.

☛In current botanical terminology, this family usually includes the subfamily Asclepioideae, which formerly was classed as the independent family Asclepiadaceae.

Periwinkle (Vinca minor). Lesser Periwinkle, Myrtle, Cemetery Vine—this creeper has many names. It’s one of the first things to bloom in the spring. It can be invasive, but it is a very tidy and polite invader. It has made itself at home all over the city. It persists indefinitely once it establishes itself, and spreads in shady areas too dim for other flowers. It also goes by the common names Myrtle and Cemetery Vine—the latter because its sober habits, dark leaves, and general indestructibility made it a favorite planting at cemeteries.

Apocynum androsaemifolium

Indian Hemp (Apocynum cannabinum). A tidy plant easily mistaken for a small shrub, especially when it grows a the edge of the woods with the rest of the undergrowth. It belongs to the same family that gives us our garden periwinkles. The red stem and smooth, elliptical leaves give the plant an elegant appearance, and the little flowers look as though they were made from the finest porcelain. The plant is poisonous, however; the name “dogbane” attaches itself to the whole family for good reason. The blooming season begins in June and extends into July.