What is this weed? I first noticed this weed a few years ago, and saw its **long, thin, V-shaped bean-shaped seed pods on meter height plants**. The pods start out connected together at the far end, but eventually separate into an inverted V. If I recall, correctly, the thin pods split open to release very small seeds with a sail. It somewhat resembles milkweed, but is branched, red stemmed and, of course, has these strange pods. **Location** : My back yard, in Augusta County, in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. ![Close up of small flowers and pods just beginning to develop]( ![Most of plant](

My guess is Hemp Dogbane. The milkweed "family" has 140 species; all have milky sap. Add red stems, branching, downward-facing pods, and hemp dogbane comes up.

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The flowers are white, not perfectly like common milkweed, and the pods hang down.

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A photo with flowers and pods can be found here.

Hemp Dogbane is common throughout the country.