Crossing an overgrown field that I frequent often, I spotted this weed, that has the same seed as a milkweed pod. Never saw it in this field before, but it is abundant this year. Anyone know what it is? Thanks. TLM
How large are the pods and can you photo one of the seeds inside? From the pic it resembles a Singletary Pea but I can't get a reference on the size of the pod.
It's dogbane, a close relative of milkweed--has the same kind of milky sap. It was an important twine-making plant for Native Americans, and when the first Europeans came here they called it hemp, and speculated that it was worth cultivating for rope- and cloth-making...and it probably would have been if not for cotton's rapid rise in this country.
I don't know; typically anything with a -bane suffix is a good repellent. There are fleabanes, dogbanes, wolfbanes, and so on. Plus it sounds good as an ingredient in a witches' spell.
Dogbane smoke is nasty. A farmer friend got a bunch in his waterway, he decided to burn it. Unless you have a bad case of nostril mites, I would stay upwind of it.
Wow, Great ID by everyone. Fascinating that it makes great cordage. I have been walking through this field for a decade and never saw it before until last week when the seeds were floating on the breeze like milkweed. This stuff makes a great wind indicator too. Going bowhunting by snowshoe tomorrow and will get a picture of the seeds.TLM
