Bitter Root (Apocynum androsaemifolium), also known as Milkweed, Dogsbane, or Fly-Trap, is a perennial herb, 5 or 6 feet in height, branching, and, in common with the other three members of the genus, yielding on incision a milky juice resembling India rubber when dry. The leaves are dark green above, paler and downy beneath, ovate, and from 2 to 3 inches long. The flowers are white, tinged with red, having five scales in the throat of the corolla which secrete a sweet liquid, attractive to flies. These scales are very sensitive, and when touched bend inward, imprisoning the insects.

The tough, fibrous bark of all four species is used by the Indians of California as a substitute for hemp, in making twine, bags, fishing-nets and lines, and linen.

The milky root is found in commerce in cylindrical, branched pieces, about a quarter of an inch thick, reddish or grayish brown outside, longitudinally wrinkled, and having a short fracture and small pith. There is scarcely any odor, and the taste is starchy, afterwards bitter and acrid.

The nature of the active principle is uncertain. A glucoside, Apocynamarin, was separated, but the activity is thought to be due not to the glucoside, but to an intensely bitter principle, Cymarin.

One of the digitalis group of cardiac tonics, Apocynum, is the most powerful in slowing the pulse, and its action on the vaso-motor system is also very strong. Being rather irritant to mucous membranes, it may cause nausea and catharsis, so that some cannot tolerate it. It is a powerful hydragogue, helpful in dropsy's due to heart-failure, and in the ascites of hepatic cirrhosis has been called the 'vegetable trocar.'

Bitter Root is also used as an alterative in rheumatism, syphilis and scrofula. The absorption in the gastro-intestinal tract being very irregular, the dosage and patient must be carefully watched and guarded.

Bitter Root is also a common name of Gentiana lutea, or Yellow Gentian, the well known bitter, and of Lewisia rediviva or Spathulum, with a starchy, edible root.

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