Files
Download Full Text (1.1 MB)
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
Fall 10-1-2026
Abstract
Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum Cannabinum) is a perennial plant native to the United States known for being extremely plastic, meaning its morphological traits adapt to its environment. This study explores how dogbane adapts to microgeographic variance and how its morphological traits are influenced by its genetics vs. the environment. We conducted various experiments over the summer. The first was a large census at the beginning of the summer where we measured several morphological traits of dogbane from the quarry bottom of the DePauw Nature Park (DNP) and various other locations in or adjacent to the DNP. We repeated this census at the end of the summer. We also germinated dogbane seedlings from both the quarry and outside of the quarry and grew them in a common garden to examine genetic variance. Finally, we conducted two studies collecting latex. We collected latex from plants with varying levels of natural herbivory and then we collected latex from plants with varying levels of simulated herbivory (clipping). Over the course of our experiments, we found that several traits varied significantly between environments. We also found that some traits varied between genetic individuals. Further research would include more common garden experiments to continue examining these differences.
Department
DePauw University Department of Biology
Project Mentor
Dr. Rose Keith
Recommended Citation
Moore, Mia 28 and Keith, Rose, "An Exploration of Plasticity in Apocynum cannabinum" (2026). Annual Student Research Poster Session. 252.
https://scholarship.depauw.edu/srfposters/252
Funding and Acknowledgements
Thank you to Dr. Dana Dudle for sharing her previous work with Apocynum Cannabinum, to Sahit Liyanage and Ernyia Jean-Jaques for help collecting field data, and to Jonah Kaiser for finding me cheap waterproof hiking shoes. Thank you also to the DePauw Science Research Fellows Funding for funding these studies. Special thanks to Dr. Rose Keith for her mentorship and expertise; I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity!