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                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Poisonous Plant Research: Logan, UT
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ARS Home Pacific West Area Logan, Utah Poisonous Plant Research Docs





- Bulletin 415
- Stakeholder Meetings
- IJPPR
- ISOPP Main
- Poisonous Plants By Toxic Syndrome
- Arrowgrass
- Bracken Fern (Western Bracken)
- Bitter Rubberweed
- Broom and Threadleaf Snakeweed
- Chokecherry
- Copperweed
- Deathcamas
- False Hellebore
- Greasewood
- Halogeton
- Hemp Dogbane
- Horsebrush
- Larkspur
- Locoweed
- Lupine
- Milkvetch
- Milkweed
- Nitrate-accumulating plants
- Oak
- Other toxic plants
- Colorado Rubberweed or Pingue
- Poison Hemlock
- Ponderosa Pine
- Rayless Goldenrod
- Selenium-Accumulating Plants
- Sneezeweed
- Spring Parsley
- St. Johnswort
- Tansy Ragwort
- Threadleaf and Riddell's Groundsels
- Water hemlock
- Yew

Rayless Goldenrod (Haplopappus heterophyllus)headline bar Closeup of rayless goldenrod showing the leaves and flowers.Rayless goldenrod (Haplopappus heterophyllus), rosea, or jimmy weed, is an erect, bushy, unbranched perennial shrub, growing from .75-1.5 meters tall. The leaves are alternate, linear, and sticky, and the flowers are yellow. It is toxic to horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. The presumed toxic substance, trematone, is the same toxin found in white snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum). White snake root is a common poisonous plant in the Ohio river valley and eastern United States. Trematone is excreted in the milk of lactating animals so that the young may become poisoned by the consumption of contaminated milk (milk sickness). The toxin is present in both green and dry plantDistribution of Rayless Goldenrod. material.**Where and When It Grows**This shrub grows on the dry rangelands from southern Colorado into Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. It grows especially well in river valleys and along drainage areas. Poisoning is most common in late fall and winter, particularly after                                       snowfall that covers other forage.**How It Affects Livestock**Rayless goldenrod in its usual environment.Daily consumption of 1 to 1.5 percent of an animal's weight of the green plant for 1 to 3 weeks will produce signs of poisoning in horses, cattle, and sheep. Death will result if the affected animals are not removed from access to the plant early. The condition it produces in cattle is known as trembles. As the toxin is secreted in milk, nursing young may become poisoned by consuming milk.  The dam may not show any signs of poisoning when grazing goldenrod.**Signs and Lesions of Poisoning**Lassitude and depressionStands in a humped-up position; stiff gait when walkingTrembling of muscles of nose and legs, especially after exercise; as the condition   worsens, the whole body may shakeWeaknessConstipation and dribbling of urineRecumbencyAcetone odor on the breathComaTerminal respiration consists of prolonged inspiration, a short pause, and forced   expirationDeathMyocardial necrosis and fibrosis of cardiac and skeletal musclesDegenerative changes of the liver **How to Reduce Losses**Poisoning of livestock by rayless goldenrod can best be prevented by preventing livestock from grazing on ranges infested with this plant for extended periods.   Rayless goldenrod can be controlled by picloram or dicamba (0.5-1.0 kg ai/Ac) in late summer following adequate rainfall.  Follow precautions for handling herbicides.


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