The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-17
THE LOCO WEED.
Trans-Missippi Plant which Works Great
Havoc Among Cattle.

IOi luc loSt lWclsC years, COH DihluIS
nave been made in trans-Mississippi
regions. particularly from the plain and
mountain region, of death to live stock
from eating supposedly poisonous
plants. Investigation traced the cause
20 two genera, either to species of
Astrag alus-nearly allied to the lupine
and to Oxytropis plants. belong to the
pea family family (LegumfnoSe)
aot considered heretofore as containing
Tirulent poisonous species, but which
does contain many food and forage
plants. Like the plant producing MILL
sickness, stock do not seem to eat it
naturally. but, once they begin, they
continue persistently. These two
genera of plants are found throughout
the plains and mountain regions TO and
including California. OF Astragalas
there are a great number Of species.
in California some of them grow with
the habit and vigor of lucerre. Z is
also 81 d to grow on high and low. TeS
and dry land. The species ONtr .pis.
poisonous to stock. is said to be pa .tial
to damp ground and is perennial. q ow-
ing up each season from the root. The
symptoms of the disease are tempo -ary
intOXlcation, passing to complete q ,rv-
Gus and muscular wreck in the .iter
stages, and, fully developed. d ,atk
ensues from starvation from inai litv
to digest food. during the pronOu.. ced
80 - 10 al
comes stupid, wild, or vicious. s. ne
times acting as though possessed ~
blindstaggerS. No antidOtc has set
been discovered, hence eXterminas ion
OF the plants is the only remedy. Ehis
may be considered well-nigh IMPOSE BILE
over the great range of wild feed ng
grounds. In cultivated pastures, h>-w-
ever. it may easily be managed. sae
common name of the Austraralus IS
milk-vetch and a number OF species ...e
described by Gray as existing cas- If
the Mississippi. none known to be J.
furious. the species injurious be.:.g
found only west of the Mississippi. aid
only. it is believed, as we approach :.te
plains regions.
Astragalus MOllissimus. one of Ese
weeds to which the general name oil 40
weed is gwen, is perennial herba a.
Gus plant, of the region of the or >at
plains from Colorado to New Mexico.
Texas and Arkansas. There are usua' "
great many stalks proceeding from q
large root stalk. They are recliniI: 2
towards the base and erect above TIE
stalks are so short that the leaves ard
tlower-Stalks seem to proceed directlf
from the root They are branching a,
the base and give rise to numerous
leaves and long stems bearing the
flowers andpodS. The leaves are usually
six to ten inches long. composed of
nne to fifteen leaflets, borne on each
side of the central leaf-stalk in pairs
except the upper one. They are of oval
form. One-half to three-quarterS OF
an inch long, of a shining silvery
hue. from being clothed with soft. silky
hairs. The flower-stalks are about as
long. sometimes longer, than the stalk
of leaflets, naked below. and at the
upper part (onc-fourth TO One-half)
bearing rather thick spike OF
flowers. which are nearly an
inch long, narrow. and somewhat
cylindrical. the carOlla Gnner covering
of the flower) of velvet or purple
color, the calyX Qlower-cup) half az
long as the carolla, and softly pubeScen'
(hairy). The flower has the general
structure of the pea family. and is sue
ceeded by short. oblOng, thickish pods
one-half to three-quarters of an inch
long. very smooth, and with about two
seeds each.
OXytropis LAMBERT are two
varicties-Cne large and one Small-o
this spccies. also known Is '.locc
weed They belong to the same
family as the one previously described
The only difference except size is that
the smaller of the two is more hairy OF
downy than the larger variety. The
larger variety iSabout the size of the
AStragalus, just described, and like il
grows in strongly-rooted clumpS,
but it differs in having an erect habit.
with shorter leaves and longer and more
stifflv erect flower-StalkS. The leaflet.
are longer and narrower-ahout one
inch long by one-quarter to One-thirt
inch wide-and hairy, especially on the
ccedS from the root-Stalk and is usually
nine to twelve inches long and nakeC
except near the top, which has a rather
close and thick cluster of flowers. much
like those of the AstragaluS in genera
apprenticeship differing only in some
minute characters. but yet which sepa
rate it into another genus. The bloom
Is succeeded by erect, lance-oblone
pointed pods of about an inch in length
The flowers are subject to much varia
ton in color. some varieties being
purple, some yellow and others being
white. The species is very abundant
on the high plains and in the mount
ans. ranging from British America tc
Mexico.
From the fact that it is more common
than AStragalus. and also more of 9
plains than a mountain species, it may
be inferred that this is the plant that has
gwen so much trouble in Western Iowa
and especially westward. 1t is impor-
tant that every farmer or emplove OF
of the farm should know it in order tc
effect its Grad cat on.
Unlike the plant producing milk-sick-
noSs. there is little probability that il
will die out in pastures. 1t is indigenous
TO wide range of territory and soil. 1t
must be eradicated bv special means.
As it is a fibrous-rootcd perennial. this
may be accomplished by thrusting a
h'sel-edged spade under it and prying
it out. 1t may seem like serious Ia
Dor. but necessary. since the shorter
the pasture becomes the more and more
will stock become addicted to eating it.
and. like milk-sickness, no remedy Is
known for the disease. Chicago Irib-
une.